F 

.U535 




OREGON 




A Complete and Comprehensive Description 



OF THE 



Agricultural, Stock Raising 



AND 



MINERAL RESOURCES 

OF THIS STATE. 



Also, Statistics in Regard to its Climate, Etc. If\ 

COMPILED FROM THE LATEST REPORTS OF 1887. 



Presented with the Compliments or the 

Passenger Department, 

^,H'J<P,„ UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY. 

W8, (Jit./ 1 




fibre -r - - ■ 



Book. 



Copyright N°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



OREGON 



ITS 



WEALTH AND RESOURCES 




PRESENTED WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OE THE 



General Passenger and Ticket Department. 



\\ 



^Vc 



<u 



H?' 



Tr 



CHICAGO : 

Rand, McNally cS: Co., Printers. 

1888 



OREGON. 



LOCATION, AREA AND PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



Oregon is the most Northwesterly State of the Union. Od the North it is 
bounded by Washington Territory, on the East by Idaho Territory, on the 
South by Nevada and California, and on the West by the Pacific Ocean. 
With the Columbia forming the Northern, and Snake River most of the 
Eastern boundary, and the waters of the Pacific washing its entire West 
coast, Oregon is almost surrounded by navigable waters. The average 1 
width of the State, from cast to west, is 850 miles, and from north to south 
'275 miles. Its area is 95,274 square miles, or nearly 64,000,000 acres. [t 
is as Large as all the New England States, with Indiana added, and larger 
than New York and Pennsylvania combined. To more fully impress 
reader with the Liberal proportions of Oregon, it may be added that it is half 
as large as France, nearly twice as large as Old England, live times as large 
as Switzerland, and seven times the size 1 of Holland. Oregon lias a popu- 
lation of 275,000. Were it settled as Switzerland, it would have 12,000,000 
people; as France, about 17,000,000; as Holland, about 25,000,000; or as 
England, ai least 40,000,000. In its proportion of productive to waste land, 
it will com par.' well with the average of the foreign countries named. In 
soil or in climatic, or other conditions affecting the growth of vegetation or 
commerce interests, the comparison would be vastly in favor of Oregon. 
on is situated between the parallels of 42 ', and M>° IS ' north latitude, 
and is not unlike, in climate and physical characteristics, Virginia or Ten- 
nessee. 

The Cascade Mountains divide Oregon into two unequal parts, each of 
which is characterized by a marked difference in topography, soil, clin 

and. to some extent, productions. Along its west coast the (oast Range also 
traverses it from north to south, while along its eastern boundary, the Blue 
Mountain Range, with its various spurs, covers probably a fifth of the total 
area of the Stat*'. Other lesser ranges, generally spurs of those named, jut 
into the intermediate regions, lending the entire country an extraordinary 
diversity of feature. Fruitful \ alleys of varying extent, each of which is 



OREGON. 5 

traversed by a more or less important stream, are numerous. The valleys 
of its western third have an average elevation of only a few score feet above 
the sea level. The eastern part, embracing fully two-thirds of the super- 
ficial area of the State, is much higher, from 1,500 to 5,000 feet above the 
ocean. Numerous mountains are higher, Mount Hood, the most notable 
peak, being upwards of 11,000 feet. The general divisions of the country, 
including scores of districts, are three. That part of Oregon lying west of 
the Cascade Mountains, and north of the Rogue River Mountains, (which 
range runs east and west, about 100 miles from the southern boundary), is 
known as Western Oregon. That part of the State lying east of the Cascade 
Mountains, excepting two counties on the southern border, is called Eastern 
Oregon. The country lying south of the Rogue River Mountains, with the 
two counties further east above referred to, is called Southern Oregon. 

The western division is about one-fourth of the state, but it contains at 
least one-half of the arable land, including the matchless valley of the 
Willamette, which is 140 miles by 50 miles in extent. Scarcely less 
important than the Willamette Valley is the coast district of Western 
Oregon, which borders the ocean for about 150 miles. Between these arable 
districts lie broad ranges of forest, affording a supply of timber practically 
inexhaustible. No country in the world is more bountifully watered than 
Western Oregon. It is a land of rivers. Clear and pure water gushes from 
every hillside, and it is rare that a square mile is found through which a 
crystal stream does not flow. 

What is called Southern Oregon includes about one-flftli of the superficial 
area of the State. A small portion of this, lying next to the ocean, has 
physical characteristics and climate similar to Western Oregon, while the 
remainder, compassed about with mountains, and being more elevated, has 
a climate of its own, dryer than Western Oregon, yet not so dry as the climate 
of Eastern Oregon. In summer these districts lie under a warmer sun than 
their northerly neighbors. Being in the elevated country, east of the 
Cascade Mountains, they suffer, if not extremes, severities of cold never 
experienced west of that great ridge. 

Eastern Oregon is a general designation given to all that part of the State 
east of the Cascade Mountains, excepting the much smaller southern portion 
last above described. This division embraces two-thirds of the area of the 
State. In its general characteristics this region may be described as high 
and dry, warm in summer, cool in winter, rich in soil, and fairly well 
supplied with timber. In a country so vast there are many local variations 
from this general statement. The average elevation of Eastern Oregon is 
about 2,500 feet. The southeastern portion of this section, notably all that 
lying south of Malheur River, is so dry as to require irrigation for 
the maturing of most all crops. The northern central portion of this 
Eastern Oregon country is much broken by minor ranges of mountains, 
which afford fine pasturage, and, here and there, are narrow valleys, unsur- 
passed for fertility. The southern central section is known as the Harney 
Lake region, which has long been celebrated as the main grazing region of 



6 OREGON. 

the State. This may be described as a vast rolling table land, interspersed with 
valleys of considerable extent, which are naturally meadows of luxuriant 
and nutritious grasses. 



RIVERS, WATER COURSES AND SPRINGS. 



Oregon probably has no equal in our Union for the number, size and 
economical disposition of its water courses. The Columbia ranks with the 
greatest rivers of the world. From its birth, among the most magnificent 
scenes of earth, in the far north and in the heart of Yellowstone National 
Park, down through its 2,500 miles of irresistible sweep to the western sea, it 
is an avenue of wealth and wonder. Inland for 300 miles from the Pacific, it 
averages about two miles in breadth, reaching over six miles near its mouth. 
Engineers estimate that it carries off a volume of water but little, if any 
less, than the Mississippi. Its immense drainage of 395,000 square miles 
can be imagined from the fact that during the melting of the snows in the 
Northwestern mountain ranges, its daily increase, for days at a time, has 
been equal to the entire volume of the Hudson. It is the only river in our 
great republic which will receive deep sea-going vessels 120 miles into th© 
interior, or a river steamer 1,000 miles inland, among the Cascade, Blue, 
Bitter Root and Rocky Mountains. The Willamette River is next in size 
and may be navigated by the largest ocean steamships and sailing vessels 
as far as Portland, 112 miles from the sea, and by river steamers a distance 
of 138 miles beyond. It gathers up the waters of forty-two streams, some of 
which are navigable for light draft steamers. The Snake River is next in 
importance, being in fact, the main fork of the Columbia. It has been navi- 
gated by light draft steamers to a point within 125 miles of Salt Lake City, 
almost under the shadows of the Wahsatch Range. 

Among other navigable streams are Rogue River and Umpqua River in 
Southwestern Oregon. Flowing from south to north in Central Oregon and 
emptying into the Columbia are the Des Chutes and John Day Rivers, each 
about 800 miles long. In Southeastern Oregon are the Owyhee and Malheur 
rivers, the former rising 500 miles southward, in Nevada, and emptying into 
the Snake where the latter stream strikes the eastern Oregon boundary line. 
In Northeastern Oregon are the Powder, Grande Ronde, and Umatilla 
rivers, all swift, strong streams, watering large areas of fertile valley lands. 

The mountain tributaries of these rivers are almost innumerable. Rising 
among the eternal snows of the higher ranges, or bursting forth from thou- 
sands of crystal springs, they are among the greatest of Oregon's attractions, 
both on account of their value in the development of many materia] 
interests, and for their many charms for the sportsman and tourist. 

The Government has appropriated large sums of money for the improve- 
ment of the Columbia River at its passage through the Cascade Range. 
When the work contemplated is completed, this stream with its tributaries 



OREGON. 7 

will be the artery of almost unbounded commercial relations with a vast domain 
north and east of Portland, the metropolis of the State. Work is also pro- 
gressing on the improvements of the other navigable streams, all of which, 
when completed, will greatly accelerate the development of the regions they 
drain. 

There is unlimited and unrivalled water power at many points along these 
rivers and streams. There are falls almost innumerable, ranging from 
twenty-five to 500 feet in height, some of which are already being utilized, as 
will appear under the head of " Manufacturing," in succeeding pages. 

There are several commodious harbors for vessels of light draft on the 
coast line, exclusive of those found at the mouths of the several rivers. At 
these places a thriving trade is carried on in lumbering, coal-mining, fishing, 
oystering, dairying, and agricultural products. 

As will be gathered from the foregoing, Oregon abounds in springs, large 
and small. These are found everywhere, from the seashore to the most 
elevated mountain peaks. Some are so large and deep as to almost arrive 
at the dignity of lakes, and the waters they throw forth at once make 
respectable creeks. This is especially the case in the Harney Lake region 
and in Western and Southern Oregon. 



CLIMATOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



Each of the three natural divisions of Oregon has a climate peculiar to 
itself. The climate of Western Oregon is mild and equable. The average 
spring temperature is 52°: summer, 67o; autumn, 53°; winter, 39°; or an 
average of 52.75° for the whole year. The thermometer seldom rises above 
90° in the hottest days of the summer, and rarely falls below 20° in the 
winter; so that out-door labor may be performed at all times of the year, 
and at all hours of the day. Considering the thermometer's limited range 
during the four seasons, and the other conditions peculiar to the locality, a 
year would more properly be divided into two seasons — the wet and dry, the 
former lasting from the middle of November until May, during which period 
the rainfall is copious and regular, insuring certain crops and good pasture. 
In the Willamette Valley the annual rainfall is forty-four inches — about the 
same as at Davenport, Memphis and Philadelphia, while in all other valleys 
it is sufficient to prevent any drouth. The rain never comes in torrents, but 
gently and without atmospheric disturbance. Thunder storms are rare. 
The remarkable equality of the Western Oregon climate can best be shown 
by the United States Signal Service reports for along series of years, and we 
append the same for sixteen years, beginning with 1872 and ending with 
1887. We divide the year into two seasons — winter and summer, or wet and 
dry. 



OREGON. 



GCOrOOOCOOOOODCCQOOOCCGCOOOCOOQC 

~3ascn4».cobO»-»©cDoo-jascn4»-coto 


5 




ascnasasascncnasasasasasasas' > 

oaiobcowoowooocO' ■ 


Highest Thermometer 


o 
< 

s 

S 


tOCOCOCOCObObOtebCOOCOOObObO' • 
Cncnu^4i.C0a0CDtOCTibObO4».a0'<Ji 

tOOiOOOiOiOCTCOOOOOOi ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


►£k H p.4i.>£i.4i.K£i.rfi.4i. t £i.4^*>.4^4*4*4^4^ 

4^1— '-jasasoocoboa3~JcD-o4*.cn^3t-i 
^ascs-jotcna^t^crsi-'bcooa^i-'ooai 


Mean Temperature 


H-» to t- 1 to l-» 1— • 1— » »-* 1— ' bO t- 4 bO t-i (-» to 


No. days on which Rain 
fell 


H->l— > ' h-»l . 1 i < i i I • i . 


No. days on which Snow 
fell 


4*.©CnbObO-JCDt-'Cnas4».C'<lbOC0as 

05 0to*.aiMM<iQ^cnw<its:w-a 


Total Precipitation 






enascncncnascn"-cncnascnascn' i 

^CncD4-rr-.OOCCOQOCDbOasOO<l; i 
O^tOCOi^ObCCOOOOOO 1 ' 


Highest Thermometer 


W j 
O 1 
W 1 

w 1 

H i 


tOtOtOt-'bOCCtO— tOtOtOCCOO" ■ 
00 CD -O bO 4* H- ' CD CD 00 CO Cn 4*. 00 1— ' j i 

-a-JOObOObOOOOOOOO' ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


4s.4^4»-C0 4* 4*- ►£- CO 4* I— i rfi. 4*. 4*. 00 4*. 

tOOlOCMMUlWCOOWOOOtOQtO 

aicnoi-'oocDi-'bOOi-'OoosbOOO-Jcn 


Mean Temperature 


bObOl— » 1— ' tO tO bO bO t-» l-» bOt-^l— »»-» 
t-»4».CDO04a>4^l-'4*©>- 1 -JCD4i.asOCCO 


No. days on which Rain 
fell 


i i Hii I i i i i t • i i i i 

H-" ' CO .ii 


No. days on which Snow 
fell 


l-*l— » bO 1— » 1— » 

cocni-'cncoi-»ascDCocnococ4i.bot- i oo 
H-*to-ab04i.4i.^ooc^bO~aoc(-'4».cno 


Total Precipitation 








oiGicna<cnoicncioi^mcnu»i i < 
00 © cn <D cn cn ~a -o to on 00 00 CO i i i 

i-»ooboaiboo©ooooo'' ! ! 


Highest Thermometer 


Ch 

a 

5 
3 


MMHM bO bO bO bO t— » bO bO ' ' ' 

cd en -a en oo oo 4*- as o oo -3 00 1 1 1 

otoooooooiooooo! I ! 


Lowest Thermometer 


4^O0C0C0O0C0OO4i.CO4^4>>00004i.4^0O 

tOa.a3OC-OCDCDl- 1 00l-il>OCD©~34i.as 

OOI— »0~30lCOtOCDbOCD4>.OCn4^a500 


Mean Temperature 


tO I— » 1— » 1— « 1— 1 1— 'bOI— 'bO tot— «totoi— » 

00asOC©<lCD«Jasa0bOCDbOCDa0CnO0 


No. days on which Rain 
fell 


Mi 1 • ■ 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 

OOCni-»OOfcOO ' 


No. days on which Snow 
fell 


tOCD4^00C0Cn0CbOCnastO4i.4».CD00as 
COOocn~a.<i©cntotoas-J004>-4».4i.cn 


Total Precipitation 


t. wT^C5Cic;u'OUicr J cnoi' 1 1 

00CncD4*©tOC0bO©0CbOCD4*' 1 1 

oobo-aocnooooooo- '< ' 


Highest Thermometer 


*1 : 

d 


OCOO l-» to bO bO 00 to CO bO • ' • 

-^)h->i— i-a«jooasascncccnbC4*' 1 1 

MOOiMOOOCTCOCOO' '' ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


CC4*-4^CCCCO04-004^4*-4^4*-4>'.4S»4»-4^ 

t— 4- hO 00 tO -J Ci >— ih > as OS cn © 00 h- '4*. 

CD*atOOCD<104^bOO-J<I*30000 


Mean Temperature 


H-»bO I-* to *-• to to l-» to bOt-»l-» 


No. days on which Rain 

tvn 


co! • -acnen! !!.!!!)!! 


No. days on which Snow 
fell 


toi— »as4».toooocncotO'<i^3i— 'ooasi-' 

- !00C04^00asbO>-'CncncDtOCn00 

t— as be 5o4>cDas^3boasaso«Doooocio 


Total Precipitation 


- 1 - 1 - 1 -0 0505 oTcrfi • 1 

on cd bo as ci <x> a; oc 00 cd ao cd on' 1 1 

i::-j-ic^oiooioooO' ■ • 


Highest Thermometer 


§ 
i 


COCOCObOCCt-OCObOCOCOCOCOCO' ' 
1— OC0004*cDH-CnCOH-*i-'004k.' ' 1 

fcOOOfcOOOOOlOOOOO 1 • 1 


Lowest Thermometer 


— — 3» 4* eifcU4*4*ai. ci tn4*-4».4».4^4^ 
LO 4- LC Ci O O: CD t-i OO bO O Cn 4* Cn 00 00 

4*ao©4*4>.ast-iooa50bo©oscD4».to 


Mean Temperature 


MM I— «■ I— » t— » t— 1 tO 1— » 1— » 1— » bO 1— ' tO 

004>.<14i>0^1Q0^1»-'Jc4»>asas-JbOOO 


No. days on which Rain 
fell 


►-.I ! »_»! to! ! '> ' '< ! ! '< ' • 


No. days on which Snow 
fell 


oocn toasbOb04i.i-»asi-iCDcDentocn 


Total Precipitation 










OREGON. 



! ocococococorococacacococacacococ 
ocooooococ;x:ococ~3-d~a-o-o-j~3~j 

1 ~3 Ci an >** ac be i— 'Ocnac^JCicn^ccfco 


YEAR 




en -a ac -a -a -a -a oo -a -a -j oo oo • « • 

0cactaac-4-0C:£:cn.j4i.0C~aaCj i < 

ooooosbsoexoooooo' * ' 


Highest Thermometer 


2 


OOCOCpCOCOCOt£.cooocooooobO | i > 

M Cn 4^ CO C5 h- © CC On tc On 00 00 ; ; ; 

ItClCX^bCOOCCTOOOc! ' ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


w->x.cnan4^4-.cncncn(cncncncncncn4^ 
bO«C^i—bCcr:octccr:OCCntc~3^c^o 


Mean Temperature 


No. days on which Rain fell 


cncci— 'W-^i^ccbCtCH-'tccntcacbOOO 

Cmh ' an oc :r: an ^ i— »ac*«.aci— »cr:CCi— ' 
cc:k;<ixch[ccct^*oqcww 


Total Precipitation 




-^OCCCCCOCOCOC^IOCOC-CIOC^]' I ' 

t£: ac 4-. o 4*. an i—> c^ i— » crs ^ to an . i ■ 
oocoooooo^aoooo' ! ! 


Highest Thermometer 




CC CC 4*. 4* 4* CC CC CC hP>. ac CC CC 4*. ' i ' 

bsoco^o^ooooooo! ! ! 


Lowest Thermometer 


~3~ai>c:^:~J;r:c:t04i.-acnancnocncr5 

c-acx^WMoitccc^iowcnCH 


Mean Temperature 


I— 1|_ 1|— '1— i 1— i bC bO >— » I— ' t— 1 1— » h-» H-» 
00OC0l-'Q0l-»C0OH-'tNDa005~3Oii^Cn 


No. days on which Rain fell 


i-'i-'^i-'i-'t-'^asastcbci-'botcfcci 

-aOCC-.CCC^OCOC'-'CT:!-' bC 00 00 CC H-* CD 

~abC--JC4i--<i4^acacw-J4i.oc^iacocbO 


Total Precipitation 






•^■cxocaccccxxcxcxXi i 

CHCnC»<X>~3if*-0«CO«-»-aai<X>fcObOi ' 

uctcccn^cioooooo! ' 


Highest Thermometer 


C-l 

a 

S3 

i 


4*. 4*. 4*. *» **■ 4^- 4^ 4^- 4^- 4^ 4-* 4-- CC 4^ ' ' 

ac en ta ~a 4*. oc an tc ac 4^- 4^ an zz ac ■ 

OiOiOCOOi^OwiCOOOo' ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


CTCO<IWMCCCOC0tW00Ht0^ 


Mean Temperature 


C-3MCbCOXCCC^tCtCCCOtC 


No. days on which Rain fell 


MCHHOMtCMtvOtvtCtCtCbiM 

4^~a~3bcaci-'4^cDXCCcncncnoccnbC 


Total Precipitation 






coceecqpcococococoaococDcoooi . 

iCWCrfii^UiCtCi-'iTH'OWX' « 

OCCCCC^OiO^COOOO 1 i 


Highest Thermometer 


C-i 


4^ On 4^ 4^ 4^ 4^ 4^ 4^ 4- 4^» 4^ 4*» 4^ an ■ " 

cno<x>aooo-ao50i-acc~3coo50i ■ 

<i*>Hiicoi;cciooocC' ■ 


Lowest Thermometer 


ct^i-aac-ocj,ac4i>ananc:c:i— 'cn^acs 


Mean Temperature 


t-»oii-»oo~3cr:acocancntci— > boon 4^ 


No. days on which Rain fell 


cwtcxocMC-aMCTccHOM 
aoborf>.oocnoi<ocno^oitocofco<xj 


Total Precipitation 






OOC^^OCCDOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOO. ' 
OiroOttOOO^Oi^COOOO 1 ' 


Highest Thermometer 


d 


rfk 4^ 4^. an rfi- rfi- 4^. 4»- On 4i> 4i- rfk 4^. rf*. ' ' 

an x ~3 1— ' ac 4^. en ci o -j oc ac a: as i i 

obocitcoiOHOiooococ! I 


Lowest Thermometer 


Ci Ci c: n iC Oi c; c^ Oi c^ Ct S3 03 cs cs cs 
i*».Oii--aototfk.fcoooooCT>c«aooirf^-»3rf» 

cnao^o-ooc-jooccccci— '-sc^i- 1© 


Mean Temperature 


acbcoacacbao4i«.^ib04i-cnacoccr:"<i 


No. days on which Rain fell 


13 

84 
83 
53 

56 

1 70 
50 

97 

1 31 

2 11 
07 
19 
33! 
00 
03 
53; 


Total Precipitation 


occ^oc^aocococ-aocococc^ocoo' i 

aiwaitv^CT^coi^xcax. ; ; Highest Thermometer 

COC^fcOtCCTWOCCCC i 


X 

H 

cc 


4^. 4^. 4^ 4^ 4*- OC 4^. 4^- 4^- 4^ OC 4^ rf* 4^- < ■ ! 
WCTCCST.CifkOi.JOOOOO 1 ' 


Lowest Thermometer 


cn cr: c: an cr. an an en c. an in — — en Ci 05 
ccbcbccci— 'ooc^ccacc^^ctaaci— i— »© 

<X>CCbO~3bCO0aCbCCn<cn~3cr>4*4*4*.© 


Mean Temperature 


OD«acofcoi-»oiooooocDt^>»»>ceQDoao 


No. days on which Rain fell 


MMM^OCtvl-'tCCC^MCMCH- 

OM^tCOCClCCI-'OiWC^KlCtC 
C'CXCH<1I- '4^4^-0C^cr:Oi— 'OOCTi 


Total Precipitation 


-a<ix-ac5C5C:<JC5v]<i<i<i<]i . 

OiC:tCtC^CWt^<iOWOX<li ; 

^OtCObwCJXOOTCOOCo! ■ 


Highest Thermometer 


c 
o 

H 

g 


ac oo ac ac ac ac oo coco oo co — co oo ■ > 

tcac4^Ci<i<JbC4i.~aaci— acotvi i 

cccoanooooobcoooo©! I 


Lowest Thermometer 


ct c ai in ct ct 4^ ci ci ai ai ci d ai o» oi 

OHOHOOCtCtCr-KOX^OW 

Oirf^oi—ooocDtaan^ibO'OCiOoi— icn 


Mean Temperature 


>^i^ci-3<j^<icc5bca:ci^cic:<i 


No. days on which Rain fell 


MtCMrfkCCH05M^.CCC10C:OWM 

coocci©cc>csci4^bObc>©cn~accaDOc 
rf*.<i05i— 'i— 'ocO"<iacbcacacacc;C50 


Total Precipitation 



a 



ii 
i 

D 

> 

o 
z 



10 OREGON. 

Following is the result of all these observations "in a nutshell." 



YEAR 


•^ 2 


CD 

+-> CD 
CO r* 
CD S 
£ ° 

,4 

H 


CD 
U 

CD CD 
CD 

H 


£:3 

O CD 

CO 5 *"" 1 

©3 


CO > 

3 2 

CD 

°« 

©3 


a 
© 

"E 

1 

s 
ft 


1872 






51 r 

52 8 

53 6 
53 6 
53 1 
53 9 

53 
52 4 

50 3 
52 2 

51 5 

51 4 

54 
54 5 

52 6 
52 


139 
157 
164 
152 
169 
166 
146 
170 
160 
184 
154 
127 
142 
139 
134 
157 


........ 

8 
24 

1 

6 

23 


46 59 


1873 






50 52 


1874 

1875 


88 
95 
99 
91 
97 

91 7 

92 
90 5 
95 4 
94 

94 2 
99 

95 
99 


27 6 

3 

20 

25 

18 
3 

19 
24 
18 

7 

7 2 

17 

15 

9 1 


59 17 
61 08 


1876 


55 04 


1877 . 


58 30 


1878 _.. 


47 70 


1879 


62 22 


1880 


51 87 


1881 _. 


58 06 


1882 


67 24 


1883 


51 45 


1884 ..... .. .,. 


38 31 


18S5 .... 


39 57 


188() 


38 76 


1887 


54 17 



The number of rainy days given includes all days on which any rain at all fell 
within the twenty-four hours, and every day on which even a light shower 
fell, either at night or during the day, is counted as a rainy day, even though 
it might have been clear twenty-three hours out of the twenty-four. The 
record as to snow is incomplete prior to the year 1882; but as much more 
than the average of snow has fallen in the last five years, the showing may 
be relied upon as an average. Prior to 1882 the days on which snow fell .are 
counted as rainy days. The amount of precipitation is given in inches and 
hundredths. As with rainy days, so with days on which snow fell — the lightest 
fall of snow is counted as a day of snow. All temperatures given are above 
zero. The thermometer has never registered below zero since the office wai 
established. A local writer in discussing the rainfall says: "Oregonian* 
often meet people, strangers to our state, only lately arrived, who ask 
anxiously, ' When the rainy season will begin.' They come prepared for the 
worst, and are astonished at clear weather in November. The fact is the 
pleasantest month in the year in Oregon is usually October. There have 
been many years when the Upper Willamette was too low for steainboating 
until the holidays, and other years, when mid-winter has seen as clear and 
beautiful weather as heart could wish for a month at a time. Our seasons 
are changeable and follow no rule, sometimes giving us rainy seasons after 
a Literal fashion, while other times we enjoy winters when flowers — roses 
bloom every month. Our rainy season this year ended May 10, with ten 
days of winter weather. Then for four months we had clear skies, and Julj 
gave a few really warm days. The summer was agreeable with deliciouslj 
cool nights. About the middle of September came several showery days 
and nights that enabled farmers to sow their summer-fallow land and get a 
good start on their early fall wheat. Other rains came to help farmers out 
and make pastures grow, and the rains of November favored greatly all who 
wished to plow stubble land. Farmers have had a very fine fall season. The 



OKEGON. 



11 



rains, when they are persistent, are generally warm, and we call it equal to 
a life insurance policy to have a good Oregon rainy spell. It is certainly 
the pleasantest portion of the year. Our rains are not only conducive to 
health, but they insure our crops as well. Our rainy season is the guarantee 
of our unfailing harvests, and protects us from the many pests that devastate 
less favored California." 

Readers can often form a better conclusion as to climate in any one locality 
by comparison with that of others with which they may be familiar. For this 
purpose we append a statement showing the maximum, minimum and mean 
temperature of the below named stations of the Signal Service, United 
States Army, for November and December, 1885, and January and February, 
1886: 





•xie: im: fie ^e ^tttee. 




1835. 


18 86. 


STATIONS. 


November. 


December. 


January. 


February. 




H 


p; 


e6 


* 


. 1 fi 


* 


p3 


S 


* 


3 

r* Cd 




CO 




<D 


cd 




ca 




<x> 


crj 




CD 




§ 


s. 


& 


S 


a 1 


g 


s 


S 


8 


g 


& 


Cedar Keys, Fla 


78.6 


38.8 


60.5 


73.7 


31.0 52.8 


73.0 


15-5 


49.2 


71-0 


16.0 


48.2 


Jacksonville, Fla 


81.2 36-4 60.3 


76.0 


32.2 52-3 


71.9 15.3 


50.7 


71-0 16_3 


49.8 


Louisville, Ky 


72-7 34.0 48.7 


66.9 


9-4 41-0 


61.9- 7-5 


31.0 


60-0 - 7.4 


32.0 


Cincinnati, Ohio 


70.8 27.1 43.8 


60.0 


3-3 35.0 


56.6-12.4 


25-4 


57-4-13.3 


26.3 


Cleveland, Ohio 


68.3 22.1 40.8 


61.4 


2.7 31.5 


53.6|- 9.0 


23.1 


53.4- 9.1 


24.2 


Columbus, Ohio 


69.2 22.9 40.9 


60-2 


.9 32.5 


56.0: - 10.8 


23.8 


57.0 —10.7 


22.8 


Philadelphia. Pa 


71.0 28.8 45.0 


60-1 


14.8 36.7 


58.1 3.9 


29.4 


59.2- 3-8 


28.6 


Pittsburgh. Pa 


72.0 21.143.6 


72-8 


6.2 35.7 


60-6'- 4.8 


27_4 


59.4 — 4.9 


26.2 


Moorhead. Minn 


45.9 5.0 27.8 


42-8 


-20.215.3 


32.1-39.8 


- 6.9 


32.2 


—38.4- 6.4 


St. Paul. Minn 


52.7 17-2 33.3 


51-6 


-17.9 21.1 


30.0-33.9 


4.2 


30.0 


33-9| 4.2 


Des Moines, Iowa 


66.3 21.4 39.2 


55-9 


- 3.0 28.4 


36-6-24.0 


10.9 


37.2 


- 28.0-11.2 


La Crosse, Wis 


58.0 20.8 38.0 


53-0 


— 9.5 26.3 


36.71 25.6 


12.6 


37.2 


—26.6—11-5 


Milwaukee, Wis 


59-8 22.5 37.5 


47-1 


11.0 26.3 


45.1—21-8 


15.8 


i 45.2 


-22.9 


14.4 


Detroit, Mich 


67.1 28.9 42.1 


54.8 


.7 32.9 


55.1 - 3.5 


24.7 


! 56.2 


-3.7 


24.9 


Marquette, Mich 


50.0 23-3 34.3 


48.1 


— * .2 23.4 


35.4—17.8 


13.8 


36.2 


35.4 


12.6 


Dodge City, Kan 


75-5 21.2 45-2 


70.0 


1.5 36-6 


44.0 —16.2 


16.5 


41.2 


-16.4 


16.4 


Leavenworth, Kan 


75.5 26.0 43.5 


57-2 


2.0 32.8 


45.5;— 20.5 


14.4 


44.2 


-21.4 


13.9 


Bismarck, Dak 


50.6 10-0 30.8 


53.0 


-10-8 23.2 


39.4-36.9 


— 4.0 


38.3 


36.2 


- 41 


FortBuford, Dak 


58-0 11.9 34.0 


59_3 


-10.2 23-8 


44-1—48.2 


— 4.2 


43.2 


—48.2 — 4.2 


North Platte, Neb 


64.0 23-3 39.5 


69.0 


- 6.0 32 9 


52.0-21.2 


15.9 


52.9 


-21 2 


15.9 


Omaha, Neb 


63.121.5 39.9 


60.0 


- 4.4 28.6 


41.8-24.1 


7.3 


42.8 


-24-1 


7.2 


Lamar, Mo 


80.0 21.6 47.2 


63.6 


- 4 3 36.3 


62.0 —16.0 


19.3 


61.2 


-15-2 


- 9.3 


Saint Louis, Mo 


76.131.8 47.8 


64.9 


6.0 38-9 


60.0— 8.2 


24.8 


60.2 


- 8.3! 24.4 


Chicago, 111..- 


66.0 27.6 41.9 


50.3 


- 2.9 31.1 


48.3—14.4 


21.4 


49-1 


-14.3 


22_3 


Springfield. Ill 


70-2 29-8 45.6 


58.0 6.0 35.H 


58.0-12.9 


22.7 


57.9 


-13.9 


22.4 


Indianapolis, Ind 


69.8 23.7 41.9 


56.31- 2 1 32 


55-3—11.3 


22.2 


54.4 


-11.4 


21.8 


Abilene, Tex 


85.8 27.4 56.2 


80.0 14.8 49-4 


72.4 — 2.8 


34.9 


73.3 


- 2-7 


34.6 


Fort Elliott, Tex 


83.4 21.0 47.4 


77.5!- .3 39.8 


60.0 — 9.6 


25.2 


61.0 


- 9.5 


26.2 


Galveston, Tex 


80.3 46.4 64.9 


72.5 


34.3 57.6 


68.7 


11.0 


47.3 


67.7 


11-2 


48.3 


Atlanta, Ga 


73.0 29.2 50.2 


69.0 


21.0 42.7 


59.9 


— 2.4 


36.1 


18.4 


- 2_6 


37.2 


Savannah, Ga 


79.5 35-0 57.9 

1 1 1 


71.8 


30.051.1 


70.0 


12.0 


45.9 


71.0 


12-0 


44.3 


Portland, Oregon.. 


65.0 34.0 47.3 


57.2 


27.045.0 


60-0 


15.0 


36.1 


65-0 


31.0 


44.7 



In Western Oregon, whenever the thermometer falls a few degrees below 
the freezing point, the weather is usually bright and pleasant, with heavy 
white frost at night. The frosts that occur in the spring, which in other 
lands would be severe enough to injure fruit and other crops, are commonly 
followed by heavy fogs from the ocean. The humidity of these fogs dis- 
solves the frost before the sun can strike the vegetation, so that no harm is 



12 OREGON. 

done by it. This moist atmosphere keeps the grass perennially green on the 
coast, and it is not unusual for flowers to bloom in the open air the winter 
through. Ice is seldom sufficiently thick to be cut for use, and skating is a 
rare pastime. The spring opens so early that the farmer sows his seed, and 
the fruit trees and wild flowers are in bloom when in a latitude from four to 
six degrees further south, on the Atlantic Coast, the rigor of winter is still 
un relaxed. During the remainder of the year, from April to October, the 
weather is delightful. There are showers from time to time, but vegetation 
is kept fresh by the night dews and occasional morning fogs. July is the 
hottest month, but the days are tempered by sea breezes and the nights ar« 
cool. 

Eastern Oregon --The climate of Middle and Eastern Oregon differs 
from that of the western part of the state in that there is'much less rainfall 
in the winter, and consequently more coldness in the latter, and more dry- 
ness in the summer. But few days in winter, however, show a zero record. 
The nun fall in the lower valleys throughout much of Eastern Oregon is 
sufficient to insure large and remunerative crops. Owing to the dryness of 
the atmosphere, cold is not felt there as it is in damp localities. Practically, 
winter generally lasts no longer than five or six weeks, and often not over 
three or four. February here is not unfrequently similar to April in New 
York or Illinois, while March is like their May. The same may be said of 
the summers as of the winters — some hot weather, equal to that in the States 
mentioned, but scarcely evermore than a few days at a time; and even then 
nights are always cooler in comparison, affording ample opportunity for 
comfortable sleep. The range of the thermometer is rarely above the summer 
temperature of Western Oregon, sometimes reaching 100°, but only at rare 
intervals. Ordinarily the thermometer Indicates 90° as about the 1 highest 
summer temperature, and 10° as the lowest for winter. In the highest 
valleys among the mountains the winters are short, but occasionally severe. 
Snow seldom falls before Christmas, ami sometimes lies from four to six 
weeks, but usually disappears in a few days. The so-called " Chinook, " a 
warm wind, is of great benefit to the countiy. It blows periodically, and melU 
deep snows in the course of a few hours. This warm atmosphere is caused 
by the passage of the wind across the Japan current. Spring begins in Feb- 
ruary, and warm, pleasant weather, and lasts until the middle of May. At 
this season lain generally falls in sufficient quantity to give life to vegetation 
and insure good crops. The average temperature is 52°. Autumn weather 
in October and November is generally delightful. There are often frosts by 
night, but the days are usually warm and bright. The season is marked by 
showers, and also by thunder storms in some localities. The mercury ranges 
between 55° and 70°. The rainfall of the year does not average more than 
twenty inches. South of Powder River it is not more than fifteen inches, 
increasing gradually to the northward. 

Southern Oregon The climate in Southern Oregon is thus described by 

a local authority: "The Rogue Valley is the section where perpetual sum- 
mer and early fall reign supreme. The winters here are enjoyable. Rain 
is never of the beating, driving kind, but falls straight down. The yearly 
rainfall is twenty-two inches. Cyclones and tornadoes are unknown, lew 



OREGON. 15 

one-half inch thick is rare at Grant's Pass, and during the winter just past, 
there was not snow enough at any time to track a rabbit. The lowest the 
temperature went at any time was to 16° Fahrenheit, and that just at day- 
break. Farmers can plow almost any day during the whole winter. The 
summers arc delightful, the thermometer rarely going above 95°; the nights 
are always so cool that a pair of blankets are necessary. Sultry, hot nights 
art unknown here. Showers come in the summer at proper intervals until 
July, and sometimes later, but usually July and August are dry months. 
Crops have never been known to fail, and a drouth is unknown." 

The mortality statistics taken in connection with our national census 
show a smaller death rate for Idaho and Oregon than for any other com- 
monwealth in the Union, Idaho standing first with a percentage of 0.33, 
Oregon following with 0.69, and prominent Eastern States following in this 
wise: Ohio, 1.11; Maine, 1.23: Illinois, 1.33; New York, 1.58; Missouri, 
1.63; Massachusetts, 1.77; Louisiana, 2.00., In the East, when in summer the 
the thermometer gets up to 80°, people seek the shade — in this State thej 
seek the sunshine from choice — there is a tonic in it at that temperature. 

The rains, beginning the last of September, fall with increasing frequency, 
say from November 20, and reach their maximum in January. Diminishing 
in February, which is usually mild, they continue through May, falling then 
semi-occasionally and exerting no ill effect, except that the grain crop might 
suffer if far enough advanced. The rainfall during the summer months is 
light. Only twice in forty years have the grain crops been injured by un- 
timely rains, for theseason of harvesting is pre-eminently in the dry season. 
There are no cyclones, no drouths, no sunstrokes, no sudden'changes or disas- 
trous atmospheric phenomena, no sluggish atmosphere which enervates in 
summer or generates virulent fevers in winter. The mean average temper- 
ature in July is about 68°; and that pf January, 45°. Naturally the health of 
the different districts varies in accordance with location. Portland, the 
metropolis of Oregon and of the whole region, is remarkably healthy, having, 
of course, its quota of diseases. The complaints incidental to childhood 
prevail seldom as severe epidemics. Typhoid fever appears, as elsewhere, 
as well as other ordinal diseases. Typhus fever never occurs. Cholera, 
which has been a scourge in the East, has never reached this part of the 
Pacific Coast. The inhabitants of towns situated on the banks of the rivers 
suffer more or less from malaria, as is the case elsewhere in places so 
situated. The further back one goes from the coast, the air is found to be 
more rarified, and in some respects more healthy. Those who have a 
tendency to diseases of the respiratory organs in many cases recover their 
health by a residence at The Dalles, Baker City and other places in Eastern 
Oregon. 

A well-known physician, a resident of Oregon for twenty-five years, in 
writing on this subject, says: "For our somewhat remarkable immunity 
from malarial disorders, considering the extent and depth of our river 
bottoms, we are indebted to our northern latitude, to the daily sea breeze 
borne to us, from the waters of the Pacific, to our cool, bracing nights, and 
to the medium temperature of even our warmest days." 



14 OREGON. 

According to the official report of the Surgeon General of the United 
States Army, the details from fever at the military posts in Oregon compare 
as follows with those at posts in other parts of the country: 

Oregon, 1 death in ' 529 

New England, 1 death in 283 

Southern frontier of Texas, 1 death in . 67 

St. Louis, Mo., 1 death in.... 113 

New York Harbor, 1 death in 66 

Medicinal waters have been discovered which, in time, will attract great 
attention. Another strong argument in favor of Oregon's climate, is in its 
relation to agricultural production. The superior quality of her wheat, 
famous the world over, clearly establishes and enforces the fact that Oregon 
has the sunshiny days, and long, cool nights, less intense heat in the matur- 
ing months — all necessary for the perfect growth of the highest grade of 
wheat — than any other State. And not only of this cereal, but she has the 
best climate for oats, barley, corn, hops, grasses, flax, vegetables, fruits of 
all kinds, and berries of every kind imaginable that belongs to the temperate 
regions. In a word, the climate of Oregon develops a rich vegetation, 
ripens abundant harvests, and is favorable to the growth of a strong, healthy 
race of people. 

SOIL. 

The soil of Oregon is as varied as its climate. In Western and Southern 
Oregon the soil in the valleys is a dark loam, containing a large proportion 
of vegetable mold, and having a clay sub-soil. In the bottom lands, near 
the water courses, it generally consists of rich deposits of alluvium. Of 
such lands there are often large tracts of great fertility, termed beaver-dam 
lands, which, as the term indicates, have been formed by the labor of this 
busy, amphibious rodent during countless centuries. The constituents of 
this soil are earthy deposits or humus of- great depth, produced from decayed 
tree's and other vegetable growths. These soils have a wonderful productive 
capacity. Under cultivation they are quick, light, and friable, yielding 
astonishing crops of hay, hops, grain, fruits and vegetables for a series of 
years, without manure, and with only indifferent ploughing. The ability of 
the clay subsoil to retain moisture explains, to some extent, the enduring 
qualities of the land. The bottoms are mainly covered with a deciduous 
growth of vine-maple, alder, crab-apple, and sal-berry, with* only occasional 
firs and pines, and as a rule, are confined to narrow valleys. Unlike prairie 
lands, they must be cleared, at a cost varying from $15 to $20 per acre, 
before they can be ploughed. Usually, however, the wood and lumber thus 
secured will pay for the work, and the farmer will afterward find his reward 
in the abundance of his crops. 

The soil of the uplands is somewhat inferior to that of the river bottoms. 
That of the undulating foothills and more tillable mountain sides is red, 
brown or black loam. The more elevated lands afford excellent natural 
pasturage, and also produce good crops of grain, and the hardier fruits and 
vegetables. 

East of the Cascade Mountains, the soil is a dark loam of great depth, 
•omposed of alluvial deposits and decomposed lava, overlying a elay sub- 



OREGON. t» 

soil. This, in turn, rests upon a basaltic formation, which is so far below the 
surface as to be visible only on the banks of the deep water courses. The 
constituents of this soil adapt the laud peculiarly to the production of wheat. 
All the mineral salts wmich are necessary to the perfect growth of the 
cereal are abundant, reproducing themselves constantly, as the gradual 
processes of decomposition in this soil of volcanic origin proceeds. The 
clods are easily broken by the plough, and the ground quickly crumbles on 
exposure to the atmosphere. 

In Northwestern Oregon, adjacent to the Columbia River, although th<* 
dry season continues for months, this light, porous land retains and absorbs 
enough moisture from the atmosphere, after the particles have been partially 
disintegrated, to insure perfect growths and full harvests. This assertion is 
so at variance with common experience that it might be questioned. 
Happily, it is susceptible of explanation. In spite of the fact that there is 
scarcely a shower between May and the following October, and that the 
average rainfall for the year does not exceed tw r enty inches, there is always 
the requisite moisture for maturing the crops. Paradoxical as it may seem, 
if the rains w r ere greatly in excess of this low average, damage would 
certainly ensue; and it is equally sure, if successful farming depended upon 
the limited rainfall, there would be poor harvests. The clouds supply only 
in part the moisture that is needed. The warm air-currents, surcharged 
with vapor, which sweep inland from the ocean up the channel of the 
Columbia River, prevent drouth. The effect of these atmospheric currents 
in tempering the climate has already been described. Their influence upon 
the vegetation is no less vital. The moisture with which they are laden is 
held in suspension during the day, diffused over the face of the country. 
At night it is condensed by the cooler temperature, and precipitated in the 
form of a white mist on every exposed particle of surface which earth and 
plant present. The effect is that of a copious shower. 

In Southeastern Oregon, notably in the vast areas of fertile lands in 
Malheur and Snake River Valleys, the soils are much like those of the North- 
eastern Oregon region, but there is less moisture. Except in a very small 
proportion of this region irrigation is necessary to successful agriculture. 
Happily, the water supply is abundant and easily applied. It is well known 
that the process of irrigation is one of the best fertilizers. The water 
brings with it enough mineral and organic matter to keep the land fertile, 
even though the same crop is raised upon it year after year, while the cost of 
irrigation is only about 50 cents an acre each season, hardly a fraction of the 
cost of artificial fertilizers considered essential at the East. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Oregon affords a vast area of farming lands, the best conditions to warrant 
the production of heavy crops — without a failure for ages — and a climate, 
above all others, to enable the husbandman to work out doors at something 
every month of the twelve. In its proportion of productive to waste lands, 
it will compare well with the average of countries of similar extent. In soil 



16 OREGON. 

©r in climate, or in any other condition affecting the growth of crops, the 
comparison would be vastly in favor of Oregon. The truth is, there is little 
land in that vast region that is not good for something, either adapted to 
wheat, barley, oats, hay, pasture, fruits, vegetables, timber, mining or 
something else. There are those w r ho claim there is no State in the Union 
where there is less w T aste laud in proportion to the total area than in Oregon; 
and, as remarked by an eminent traveler: "Here nature does not divide her 
rain and sunshine into two great halves, as she metes them out in California. 
Here it rains and shines by turns, as smiles and tears alternate on those 
happy faces never distorted by immoderate laughter, nor drawn down by 
persistent grief." In many sections the grass is green the year round. The soil 
is as black and rich as the mud of Egypt. The farmer can seed all the fall, until 
Christmas, or all the spring from February to May, thus dispensing with 
extra labor. Harvest is prolonged indefinitely, just as long as the grain will 
stand. Indeed, we have seen such enormous crops cared for by so compara- 
tively few farmers that the singularly brilliant and beautiful moonlight 
nights of that northland were made to ring with the sound of the reaper or 
mower until the "wee sma' hours." 

In the proportion of production to population, Oregon stands at the front 
in wheat, oats, barley, and in the aggregate of all grains, and of all food. 
The }deld of wheat last year equaled a proportion of nearly one ton for each 
man, woman and child in the State. In this, as in other elements of human 
food, Oregon is almost without a parallel. The possibilities of the future in 
the development of her latent or undeveloped agricultural wealth, are simply 
incalculable — almost beyond comprehension. 

An impression has grown up that agriculture in Oregon is confined to 
growing wheat. This is as far from the truth as to suppose that Missouri's 
product is confined to corn and hogs. In Oregon the farmer raises wheat, 
oats, barley, rye, and corn, (in the southern portion of the State chiefly), 
buckwheat, Max, hay, potatoes, hops, rutabagas, and almost every kind of 
vegetable that may be mentioned. While in the matter of wheat, Ore 
stands at the head of the national class, she stands with but few equals in 
relation to fruit, and other productions mentioned. The area devoted to flax 
and buckwheat is not large, but increasing. Sugar beets are among the 
productions, some tobacco is being grown, turnips and sweet potatoes grow 
luxuriantly in every part of the State, and no larger or better pumpkins and 
squashes are found anywhere. The bean crop of Oregon is something 
almost marvelous, while the grasses grown arc not equaled anywhere. 
Alfalfa produces three or four crops, and, in Western Oregon, a growth of 
four or five feet high is common. Red clover yields two and three crops 

during the cereal season, and five feet is a common height. White clover 

grows abundantly. 

The garden vegetables produced in Oregon embrace all the ordinary 
varieties known to the table peas, beans, potatoes, ^iXii: plant, pieplant, 
cucumbers, onions, asparagus, parsnips, carrots, radishes, beets, cabba _ 
cauliflower, tomatoes, watermelons, cahtelopes, muskmelons, citrons, and 
the like. The growth of all these vegetables, as well as the flavor, cannot. 



OREGON. 17 

be excelled. It has long since been demonstrated that Oregon is one of the 
best, if not the best, fruit-growing State in the Union, and the beauty and 
flavor of her orchard products have never been surpassed. 

Wheat — Wheat is the staple agricultural product of Oregon. Its superior 
quality has made it famous in the grain markets of the world, and insures 
for it the highest price. The yield averages from twenty-five to thirty 
bushels per acre, and often exceeds forty bushels on large areas. The berry 
is full and heavy, often exceeding by five to nine pounds the standard weight 
of a bushel (sixty pounds). There is practically no limit to the quantity 
which may be produced, except in the lack of farmers to till the soil. The 
surplus yield ever since 1870, has been enormous, considering the acreage. 
In 1887 not less than 300,000 tons, or 10,000,000 bushels, were offered for 
sale. Of this great quantity, Western Oregon produced 100,000 tons, and 
the country east of the Cascade Mountains yielded 200,000 tons. The inland 
"means of transportation have often been strained to their utmost capacity 
in moving so large a crop, but recently supplied railroad facilities by the 
Union Pacific Railway and leased lines, are rapidly doing away with this 
trouble. 

Oafs — Oats also yield heavily, from forty to seventy-five bushels per acre, 
and are exported largely. The standard weight of a bushel of oats is 
thirty-four pounds, but the weight of forty and forty-five pounds to the 
bushel is not infrequent. Rye and barley are likewise profitably raised. In 
the most southern parts of Oregon corn also flourishes, but the average 
summer is too cool for this cereal in the northern section of the country. 

Hops — Hops are a very important product. They are grown on the river 
bottom lands, and, with proper cultivation, a large yield of superior quality 
is obtained. The crop runs fron 1,000 to 3,000 pounds per acre. Nearly 
2,000,000 pounds were produced in 1887. The principal gardens at present 
are in the Willamette Valley. The hop acreage might be profitably 
increased ten-fold, as the crop sells readily at prices ranging from 
fifteen to twenty cents per pound, and sometimes fifty cents to $1; and the 
export demand is steady. Some of the advantages connected with this 
industry are, the certainty of a good crop, the early bearing of the vines, the 
extraordinary yield, the low cost of production, the facilities for securing 
suitable soil, poles, fuel for drying, and cheap (Indian) labor for picking. 
This crop has never suffered from insects or disease. Instances are common 
of hop growers raising 3,000 pounds to the acre, and selling them at twenty- 
five cents per pound, or $750 for the yield of each acre. The cost of produc- 
tion is placed at ten cents per pound. The quality of these hops is only 
second to the best grown in New York, which are the finest in the country. 

Flax — Of recent years, flax has been raised for export, and its culture is a 
permanent industry. To produce it successfully requires particular care, 
but farmers find it an excellent crop to rotate with wheat, and the large 
profits repay for the greater labor attending its cultivation. It is not unusual 
to obtain from 400 to 800 pounds of clean fibre per acre. The farmers in one 
aeighborhood produced not less than 100,000 bushels of flax seed in one 
season, which netted them the same number of dollars. There is no doubt 



18 OREGON. 

that linen making could be engaged in successfully, provided the necessarj 
capital and labor could be secured for the enterprise, particularly as there is 
convenient water power everywhere for driving any number of looms and 
mills. 

Vegetables — Potatoes, cabbages, onions, parsnips, cucumbers, and celery, 
grow to large size. The potato bug has never appeared, and potato diseases 
are unknown. Onions produce immensely on the low lying lands. All the 
vegetables named thrive equally well, and give abundant crops in both 
sections of the country, notwithstanding the great climatic distinctions 
which exist east and west of the Cascade Mountains. Melons, tomatoes, 
and some of the fruits, however, flourish better in the warmer and dryer 
atmosphere east of the mountains. 

Although wheat raising is the least profitable of any crop, the following 
table, showing the results obtained from a. quarter section of wheat, shows 
that money can be made, even on that, in Oregon. The table is based on 
actual results, and the price — forty-five cents per bushel — is that paid in 
1887, at a remote shipping point. The price at Portland was about sixtj 
cents per bushel. 

EXPENSE. 

Fall plowing, 160 acres, at $2 . — .__.$ 320 

Seed wheat, li,L> bushels, at 45 cents ___ .- 108 

Sowing, at 75 cents 120 

Harvesting, at $2 per acre __. 320 

Threshing and hauling, $2.50 per acre -- 400 

Total cost $1,368— or— $7,923/2 pw acre 

RECEIPTS. 

5,600 bushels of wheat, at 45 cents per bushel $2,520 

Less cost 1 , 268 

Profits $1,252 

A profit of $7.80 per acre — a sum sufficient to purchase more than three 
times the amount of land that produced it, at government or railroad prices. 
Mixed farming and stock raising or fruit growing will bring far better 
results. 

Fruit-Growing — No finer fruits of the kinds raised there, in flavor and 
size, comparing favorably with the best California Varieties, are produced in 
any quarter of the world than in Oregon. Fruit trees grow from six to eight 
feel the first year, and bear fruit the second, third and fourth years, accord- 
ing to variety. They thrive id the valleys as well as on the foothills, and up 
to a considerable height in the mountains, but especially in sheltered, dry 
soil. At recent fairs, yearling prune, peach and plum trees, eight feet, four 
inches high, and yearling cherry trees, seven feet high, were exhibited. 
Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, cherries, and the various small fruits, for 
size, beauty, and excellence of flavor, not excelled on the globe, are grown 
in the orchards of that region. Pears blossom along the Columbia in 
February and March; harvest apples ripen in July. Oregon gathers from 



OREGON. 19 

its loaded orchards about 2,000,000 bushels of large fruits per year, with 
tons upon tons of other fruits. Immense drying and canning establishments 
have been started, to convert the fruitage into exportable shape. Since the 
completion of the Oregon Short Line, carloads of these delicious products 
have been shipped eastward in various forms, and the man who has a good 
orchard has his competency assured. We are now importing millions of 
pounds of dried fruits, (especially prunes), from Europe annually, and there 
is no danger of overdoing this business. There is a grand field in this 
country for vineyards and wine making. 

Afples — Apple trees are indigenous to the soil. The fruit of the orchard 
is large, highly colored and of delicate flavor. Trees are strong and hardy, 
and so prolific that, without due care, they are likely to exhaust themselves 
with overbearing. 

Prunes — Prunes thrive as well as in any other part of the world. The 
trees are healthy and vigorous, and bear quite early. The fruit is rich, 
mellow, large and beautiful, and has a delicate aromatic taste. It is 
excellent for table use, and superior for drying and preserving. 

Plums — Plums are prolific, sweet, and of fine flavor. There are many 
varieties, and the trees are hardy and reliable bearers. Some varieties are 
magnificent in size and color. 

Pears— Pears of all the best knowm varieties, early and late, are produced 
in profusion. The trees are hardy, bearing at a remarkably early age, and 
yielding sweet, mellow fruit, w^hich cannot be excelled either in size or in 
tlavor. Some species attain a w T eight of three pounds and upward. 

Cherries — Cherries, which cannot be excelled anywhere, grow in unlimited 
abundance. The trees are hardy and heavy bearers, and the fruit is so 
superior in size and beauty that its value for shipping <and market purposes 
leaves nothing to be desired. 

Peaches — Peaches have been cultivated satisfactorily along the Columbia 
Hiver, as well as at many points east of the Cascade Mountains. With 
proper care the peach orchards may be made to jueld not alone for home 
consumption, but for export. 

Writing on the subject of fruit raising in Oregon, a well known fruit man 
Kays: "From the best authority, we are informed that canners have paid 
for apricots, peaches, choice plums of white varieties, and Bartlett pears, 
three to four cents a pound, and for cherries six to eight cents. This averages 
$1.50 to $2 per bushel for all the rest, and $2.50 to $4 a bushel for cherries. 
It requires no argument to prove that these are paying rates. It is upon 
such returns as this that we hear of prune orchards giving $350 an acre 
annual income, and even higher than that. An orchard within eight miles 
of Portland, where the trees w T ere 6 years old, yielded $2,460 net profit on 
three and a half acres. At Eugene City, S. P. Sladclen, a practical grower, 
has set out about thirty-five acres, mostly in fine prunes. He is expecting 
$500 an acre in three or four years from this date. In the Ashland 
precinct, 2G5 acres of orchard have been set out within the past few years."^ 

Oregon is the very Eden for cherries, strawberries, currants, raspberries 
gooseberries and blackberries. In the southern part of the State, we may 



20 OREGON. 

add figs, hard and soft shell almonds, nectarines, apricots, quinces and 
English walnuts. The following correspondence will give an idea of berry- 
growing, and the profits of it, in this State: 

"Seeing your communication asking about berry raising, I will answer to 
the best of m} r ability. With regard to strawberries, I find that 6,969 hills 
will grow on an acre, two and one-half feet apart. At an average of two 
pounds per hill, we have 18,938 pounds of berries, which, at five cents per 
pound, bring $696.90. 

"Blackberries at five feet apart, will make 1,752 hills per acre. At eight 
pounds per hill, which I consider a fair average, as I had hills last year 
which produced twenty pounds, this will amount to 13,936 pounds; at five 
cents per pound, they will bring $695.80. 

"Raspberries will grow about the same number of hills per acre, and 
yield at least five pounds per hill, which is 8,710 pounds. At eight cents per 
pound, this would amount to $696.80. I speak of Gregg Blackcaps. 

"The length of season for strawberries is owing to whether you irrigate 
or not. I do not irrigate my ground, and, as a general thing, the berries* 
begin to ripen about the 20th of May, and last till July and August. We 
had blackberries from the 4th of July until October. Raspberries only last 
about a month or six weeks, but are a much surer crop than blackberries, as 
the vines are hardier." 

One canning company in Portland put up the following fruits in 1887: 
Small fruit, 54,500 pounds; cherries, 17,000 pounds; plums and prunes, 
44,000 pounds; pears, 190,000 pounds; apples, 750,000 pounds: quince, 7,500 
pounds; tomatoes, 275,000 pounds; peas and beans, 242,000 pounds: 1,063,000 
pounds of fruit, and 517,000 pounds of vegetables. 

While the prune industry is but in its infancy, several orchards are now 
Rearing that will each yield 100,000 pounds of prunes when in their prime, 
and there are many that will yield 25,C00 to 50,000 pounds each. It is easily 
Lble tor a prune grower to manufacture his own crop into the choicest 
of cured fruit at an expense of not much over a cent and a half per pound; 
and two cents, at most, will take the fruit from the trees, and pay all cost of 
curing and packing in the best marketable shape. Oregon should easily 
market a million pounds of first class prunes in 1888, because the prune 
orchards, though not numerous, are rapidly coming into bearing. Oregon 
has the world for a market for most of those products, while tor all of them 
the demand is far in excess of the supply. 

CATTLE RAISING. 

Oregon has for years been the great cattle center of the Pacific North 
west. It is also noted for its production of horses and sheep. The mild 
winter climate, the fact that the native grasses remain green during most of 
the year, and the ease with which cultivated grasses can be raised, together 
make Oregon an excellent country for raising every kind of stock. The 
general practice of Western Oregon farmers is to provide fodder for only a 
part of the year, and to allow stock to roam at large during the greater part 



OREGON. 21 

of it, while in Eastern Oregon vast numbers have never tasted prepared 
food. In the cold weather that is occasionally experienced in winter, 
live stock suffers sometimes, but, as a rule, it does well enough in the open 
-air all the year. While stock raising is pursued in all parts of Western 
Oregon, it will be observed from the above that the region east of the Cas- 
cade Mountains is most favorable to that pursuit. 

As is well knowm, bunch grass affords all the elements of nutriment 
necessary for bone, muscle and flesh. It is as strong as oats or barley, and 
in its perfection, w r ill supply the animal with as much nourishment in a day 
as the quantity of timothy, clover or hay it may eat in the same time, with 
the usual amount of grain added. The animals fed on this bunch grass are 
well rounded, hard and solid in flesh, and not large bellied, like those fed on 
ordinary grass. It is a mistake to suppose that bunch grass pastures contain 
no other grasses. Rye grass grows on 1ow t lands and on hillsides. It 
resembles rye in growth and appearance, and makes excellent hay when well 
cured, yielding largely. Stock will not eat it on the range, however, except 
-when severe winters come, w T hen they get through the cold weather nicely 
on the long stems that stand above the snow^. All through the bunch grass 
region the smaller grasses cover the ground between the clumps of larger 
growth. It has been demonstrated that wiiere sheep and other stock range, 
and the bunch grass is trampled out, a number of other native growths come 
in place of it, and that such pastures, supposed to be w^orn out, now support 
much more stock than in their primeval condition. 

The stock ranges of Baker, Malheur and Grant Counties, in Eastern 
Oregon are among the best in the West. The climate is in every way 
suited to that industry. But little rain falls in the summer, and not much 
in winter. Cattle have grazed in some of these valleys for twenty years 
without other food than that obtained by them on the ranges, and have never 
suffered serious loss. Generally, they are fat and in good condition in the 
spring, but occasionally they suffer some deteroriation. As on all ranges, a 
small percentage die every winter from various causes. Running w r ater is 
abundant in the streams, fed constantly by the living springs and melting 
snow r of the mountains, and stock does not suffer for lack of water during the 
dryest season. It is estimated that 250,000 cattle are grazed in these counties, 
valued at $4,000,000, though the assessors returns fall far short of these figures, 
ooth in number and value per head. The stock industry dominates,and how- 
ever extensive the farming settlements may become in that region, this pursuit 
will always be an important and profitable one. 

The largest owners of horned stock are improving its quality by infusing 
fine blood into the herds. There are numerous breeders of Short-horns, 
Galloways, Herefords, Holsteins, Alderneys, and Devons of pure race. 
Particular attention is paid to dairy stock by such cattlemen as combine 
farming and stock raising. This large introduction of fine blood into the 
cattle herds of Oregon will soon wonderfully increase their value, and 
greatly add to the profits of the business. A steady profit of 25 per cent, 
per annum by Oregon cattle raisers is really a common result. Forty and 
oO per cent, has been realized, but the writer who lays down such figures as 



to OREGON. 

an average is very liable to involve his reputation. It is not uncommon for 
experienced stock men, who know how to utilize every advantage, and to 
guard against nearly all discouragements, to do business for a time on capi- 
tal borrowed at 1 per cent, per month, and to make a good margin on the 
investment. The writer has in mind a gentleman whose large herds roam 
in Southern Oregon, who, for five years, has made the very handsome profit 
of 40 per cent, per annum. He has been especially judicious in his purchases 
and sales, exercised great care and judgment in the selection of a range and 
in his system of ranch improvements, and has been so fortunate as to secure 
some of the best men on the plains to carry out the practical workings of 
his business. Of course, with the present low prices, such profits are not 
now possible, but it is a good time to buy stock and start in the business. 
Constant care and study on the part of the owner of stock is a grand point. 

There are several herds of cattle near the Oregon Short Line, in Eastern 
Oregon, of from 25,000 to 30,000 each. About 50,000 head of beeves are sent 
to market annually. Many of these are shipped to Chicago and other eastern 
points over the Union Pacific Railway, while a considerable number find 
ready sale at Portland and other Pacific Coast markets. Union Pacific stock 
trains are pushed through on passenger schedule, and rates are made so 
reasonable that the Oregon stockman loses little by his remoteness from 
eastern consumers. 

Ontario and Baker City are the objective points for those who desire to 
investigate this industry in Eastern Oregon, while Portland should be the 
starting point for any one desiring to look up a location in the region west 
of the Cascade Mountains. 

DAIRYING. 

The climate and fine natural pasturage of Oregon greatly favor the pur- 
suit of the dairy business. The cool summer nights, the abundance of pure,, 
cool spring water, the freedom from sultry and wet weather and thunder 
storms during the warm season, facilitate the production of butter and 
cheese. Of late years, dairy farms have been started in various parts of 
Western Oregon. In the Willamette Valley, on the bottom lands of the 
Columbia River, where splendid grasses grow spontaneously during three- 
fourths of the year, and in the Cascade and Coast ranges, a number of well 
appointed establishments of ihis kind arc successfully carried on. There is 
always an active home demand for good butter and cheese, and the surplus 
product finds a ready sale in other markets of the Pacific Coast. 

Nothing can more strongly impress upon the reader the advantages of this 
broad region of* free pasturage than a comparison with the most famous 
dairy countries elsewhere. In New York and Ohio vast wealth is accumu- 
lated by dairymen, who Iced their cattle four to six months out of every 
twelve, and the balance of the year pasture them on lands worth from $50 to 
$200 per acre. Swiss butter and cheese are famous the world over, and at 
Cham is the largeBt milk-condensing factory in the world, using the milk of 
6,000 cows. This milk is put up in cans, transported half way across Europe, 
and across the ocean, pays duties and is sold at less than American made. 



OREGON. 23 

The best lands are worth $500 per acre, and cows $100 to $150 each. The 
feed is entirely grass in summer, and thirty pounds of hay per day in winter. 
Oil cake, cottonseed meal, ensilage, etc., are unknown. The cows are kept 
in clean, stone stables, and only allowed to go out a short time each day for 
exercise. It is not uncommon to keep 100 cows on 150 acres. All the liquid 
manure and droppings are saved and put on the meadows, which are mowed 
three times a year. During the milking year of nine months, the average 
per cow is ten quarts per day. This is sold for two or three cents per quart. 
In Oregon good dairy lands can be had for the taking, or, if the settler 
desires to purchase, he can do so at from $3 to $8 per acre. Butter sells at 
from 30 to 40 cents per pound; cheese 15 to 20 cents; good cows cost from 
$35 to $45. The dairyman can hardly go amiss for a location. Every county 
in the State still offers good openings in the w T ay of free or cheap pasture 
lands, good w r ater, desirable climate and good markets. 

WOOL GROWING. 

Sheep husbandry is altogether as profitable in Oregon as cattle raising, and 
in some localities sheep are crowding cattle from the ranges. A conservative 
local authority writes as follows from The Dalles, which is headquarters for 
sheep men in the Columbia Valley: "Though wool values have, at the 
present time, a depressing aspect, and complications about tariff talk and 
prices are more serious than w 7 e remember them for a number of years, yet 
in daily conversation with wool growers we find no sentiment expressed that 
is not entirely suggestive of confidence in the future prospects and profits of 
their business, and the public generally will be interested in the following 
exhibit for their estimated gains in present conditions. This is no rose- 
colored view 7 , but the result of interviews during the past two weeks with 
several prominent wool growers, are their own figures, and who all conclude 
in good humor, 'there is more money in sheep than anything else.' The 
expenses are placed at the maximum, and the returns at the minimum, of 
values, and is suggestive of what any w r ool grower can do in Eastern Oregon 
and Washington Territory, who has the necessary money, brains and perse- 
verance. 

INVESTMENTS. 

2,500 stock sheep, 1.250 ewes, 1,250 wethers, $2 $5,000 00 

Investment in land, etc 1,000 00 

EXPENSES TWELVE MONTHS. 

Interest on $6,000, at 10 per cent $600 00 

Loss. 50 head at $2 ...- ._.. 100 00 

Two men with board at $100 _. 1,200 00 

Dipping 2,500 head at 2 cents 50 00 

Shearing 2.500 head at 6 cents 150 00 

Sacking, and boarding shearers... '. 60 00 

Sacks, 50 at 40 cents 20 00 

Hauling 17,000 pounds wool at $1 ... 175 00 

$2,355 00 
CASH RETURNS. 

Wool, 17,500 pounds at 15 cents $2,625 00 

Wethers. 400 head at $2.50 1,000 00 

Lambs, 600 at $1.50 : .... 900 00 $4,525 00 

Profit.. J $2,170 00 



24 OREGON. 

"This calculation is based on seven pounds to the fleece, and on 1,250 ewes 
producing 1,000 lambs, replacing the wethers sold by lambs, as is usual; and 
also that all help is hired. By the sheep owner doing one man's work, fully 
$600 more would be cleared, giving an annual profit of $2,770 on an invest- 
ment of $6,000." 

Sheep farmers prefer the ranges close to the mountains, where they say 
the greatest variety of grasses grow upon which sheep thrive best. Lambing 
time is in April and shearing in May. In June the flocks are driven to the 
mountains, where they fatten and the young become vigorous. These 
mountains are often covered with open pine forests, through which very 
nutritious grasses grow, different in nature from the bunch grass of the 
plains. By common agreement sheep owners occupy the range upon which 
their flocks first fed, and the rights of first comers being thus respected, all 
contention is avoided. The mountain ranges are unsurveyed, but much of 
the land in the Blue Mountains is valuable for its timber as well as for its 
grasses, and, when cleared, will produce good crops of grain. All the Blue 
Mountain region is well watered. The wool produced in the Pacific North - 
west is fast taking rank with the best fleeces which reach the East, and has 
a reputation of its own in New York and Boston. 

At the Centennial exhibition three medals were awarded to Oregon wools. 
On one entry by the State of Oregon, the Committee reports as follows: 
" Some very fine specimens of Merino wool of good staple, very much resem- 
bling Australian wool, and giving evidence that this State can produce wool 
of very great value." On an exhibit made by S. G. Reed, of Portland, 
the report reads : "Three samples of Leicester combing wool, and three 
samples of Cotswold combing wool, noticeable for long staple and bright 
lustre." On another entry by Mr. Wilkins, of Lane County, the report reads: 
" An exhibit of a sample of Cotswold wool, with twenty samples of wool 
improved by a series of crossing, pursued for many years, of high-bred Cots- 
wold bucks and high-bred Oxford Down ewes, producing wool retaining the 
strength of the original Cotswold, but with greatly increased fineness and 
softness and total absence of hair." 

The above were the only exhibits of Oregon wools. The Oregon City 
woolen mills made an exhibit of fancy cassimeres and blankets, receiving a 
medal therefor, and the following committee report: " Fancy Cassimeres, 
substantial in fabric and good design; also blankets of good quality, all 
marked for their cheapness, resulting from the availability of Oregon wools 
at low COSt." 

The exhibit of the Mission woolen mills of San Francisco, which from 
their commencement until now, it is understood, have used largely of Oregon 
wools, the report reads: u Blankets, carriage blankets and lap robes, made 
of Pacific Coast wool, the higher qualities unsurpassed in excellence of 
fabrication, softness of finish and tastefulness of borders." 

Oregon could almost grow the wool needed to clothe a nation. To grow 
it would enrich thousands of husbandmen, and to manufacture it would build 
up dozens of important cities. Kheims began in 1801 the manufacture of 
Merino, and now has some 60,000 workmen running 200,000 spindles. Brad- 
ford, where the great English worsted works are located, has grown from 



OREGON. 25 

14,000 to 100,000 people as a direct, result of establishing the factories in 
question. It may also be stated for the encouragement of the wool men that 
amongst economists it is a recognized fact that, taking the world as a whole, 
the supplies of wool and mutton are not keeping pace with the increase of 
the wants of mankind. In the United States the stock of sheep and lambs 
has increased during the past ten years by about 15,000,000, but during the 
same interval the population has increased by a more than corresponding 
extent, so that we are scarcely keeping pace with our own requirements. 

It is the same as regards Canada, where there are not sufficient sheep to 
furnish the clothing required for their own use. Within the past ten years 
the sheep supply of Germany has fallen from 28,000,000 to 25,000,000; of 
France, from 30,000,000 to 23,000,000; of Hungary, from 15,000,000 to 9,250,- 
000; of Austria, from 5,000,000 to 3,750,000; and even Norway and Sweden 
have fallen away to the extent of 200,000 head. Excepting Australia and 
the River Platte, there has been no such increase of flocks and herds as 
would suffice to repair the deficiencies of other countries. 

Oregon is getting on well towards supplying her quota of wool and mutton. 
In 1870 she had 318,123 sheep; in 1880, 1,083,162 and in 1887, 2,600,000. Her 
wool production in 1887 was nearly 16,000,000 pounds, and her mutton sales 
300,000 head, her total income from this industry reaching nearly $3,500,000. 
One firm will ship eastward from Oregon in the "double-deck" cars of the 
Union Pacific Railway, about 50,000 head of wethers in 1888. This opening 
up of eastern markets by the Union Pacific Company will greatly stimulate 
the industry. While quite recently, it was a matter of concern as to how to 
dispose of Oregon mutton, the fast trains and low freight rates have solved 
the question. 

HORSES, HOGS, ETC. 

Oregon has about 100,000 horses. While many of them are what are 
known as " half-breed " stock, yet horses of an excellent type are also largely 
raised. The soil and climate, combined with good blood, have produced not 
only the best draft animals, but also good trotters and carriage horses. Much 
money has been invested in fine, imported stock, from the heaviest Percher- 
ons and Clydesdales to the fleetest thoroughbreds. The horses raised east of 
the Cascade Mountains excel those of other sections in speed. This is due 
to the bunch grass pasturage and the distance to the watering places. The 
animals sometimes go on a fast trot for ten miles from their feeding places 
to water, thus developing muscle from their birth. In the bunch grass dis- 
tricts, the feed costs nothing. It is well known that horses can "rough 
it," and find their own living the year round better than either sheep or 
cattle. They will paw the snow from their pasturage and do any necessary 
amount of traveling, with ease, to secure sustenance or drink. 

One of the greatest horse ranches in the West is that of the Oregon Horse 
and Land Company, whose headquarters are near Ontario, near the conflu- 
ence of the Malheur and Snake rivers, Eastern Oregon. In fact, this 
company has several ranches located in Lost Valley; one at the mouth of 
Sucker Creek, near Snake River, one at the three forks of the Sucker; also 



26 OREGON. 

the old McCusick ranch, on the Owyhee Creek. The range occupied is 85 
by 150 miles, in Idaho and Oregon. The stock of horses owned were origin- 
ally well selected Oregon mares, which have since been bred to Norman 
Percheron horses; and to-day the average of the entire band is probably not 
exceeded on the Pacific Coast. This company are the largest horse-owners 
in the United States, having over 10,000 head of fine, large horses. They 
have purchased many fine stallions from the breeding farm of M. W. Dun- 
ham, Wayne, Illinois. Besides the above, they have added of their own 
breeding in Oregon. They have in use about 300 stallions on their ranches. 
During the past season their shipments to Eastern markets were by train 
loads, and their purchases amounted to 5,000 head. The Company began 
business about five years ago, succeeding one or two individuals owning 
ranches and bands of horses aggregating 5,000 head. They have rapidly 
come to the front as the leading horse owners of the Pacific Coast. 

These Oregon mares are purchased at from $30 to $40 each. The thor- 
oughbred stallions cost from $500 to $2,000 each. The first cross results in 
an animal much valued in large Eastern Cities for street car and other 
purposes, and sells readily at three years old at $125 to $150. Such an animal 
costs to raise not to exceed $10, exclusive of interest on the investment. 

Growing and curing pork is another source of farm income, as yet but 
little encouraged in Oregon, but profitable, even in a small way. All last 
fall and winter meat packers paid eight cents per pound for good hogs. 
There is not a single thing in the condition of the climate or productions to 
enforce the import of pork. Oregon has the proper feed out of which to 
make good pork; and it does make some, but not enough. Hams, bacon and 
lard are largely shipped there from Chicago, all of which could be easily 
cured at home. 

Poultry can be made to pay well, for there are good markets for eggs and 
fowls. This is already done, but could be extended considerably and made 
more of a regular business. Almost every housewife will tell the reader 
that she pays, on an average, fifty cents for chickens, and about twenty-rive 
cents a dozen for eggs. For other kinds of poultry the prices are propor- 
tionately high. Nothing pays better, when properly carried on, than raising 
poultry as one branch of the farm work. 

Bee keeping ifi an attractive and profitable business. There are a great 
variety of honey-producing tlowers in every part of the State, and it would 
be difficult to find, in Western or Southern Oregon, a season when the bees 
might not be pasturing. 

A prominent authority says: kk Fanning and stock raising should be, in 
Oregon, regarded as parts of one great industry, in which neither can reach 
its highest and hest development without the other. They go together 
naturally, and we had almost said necessarily, and complement each other 
so nicely that their separation must be regarded as in some degree anomalous. 
The farmer as a stock raiser is a farmer in his natural condition. It is an 
abnormal state of affairs when the two legitimate co-ordinate branches of 
his business are separate, or when either i> neglected. The old nomadic 
life of the Orient, in which the cattle on a thousand hills were a man's only 
possessions, and their supervision almost his only industry, and the modern 



OREGON. 27 

bonanza farming of California and Dakota, in which live stock has no part, 
show two extremes, both of which are inimical to civilization and material 
progress. The power of development of our resources, and the solid, grow- 
ing prosperity of our nation are largely consequent upon the fact of the 
general division of our lands into farms of reasonable dimensions, occupied 
by men who realize that the flock and herd are as necessary to the success- 
ful prosecution of their business as are bountiful harvests and well-filled 
granaries. In improving the one, therefore, do not fail to correspondingly 
develop the other. The highest type of agricultural prosperity means the 
neglect of nothing which may tend to keep up a well studied equilibrium 
in these things — first-class stock on a farm in first-class condition, all under 
the management of a first-class farmer." 

OREGON LANDS. 

In Western Oregon, valley lands preponderate; and here, in Western 
Oregon, is the gem, the Emerald of the Pacific Coast. It is the Willamette 
Valley of which Hon. Samuel Bowles once wrote: " Never beheld I a more 
fascinating theatre for rural homes; never seemed more fitly united, natural 
beauty and practical comfort; fertility of soils and variety of surface and 
production; never were my bucolic instincts more deeply stirred than in this 
first outlook upon the Willamette Valley." It is about 150 miles long and 
50 miles wide, containing 125,000 inhabitants — about half the present popu- 
lation of Oregon — and if settled as is Merrimac Valley, it would have 
1,076,000; or, as the Valley of the Delaware, it would have 2,000,000. It will 
produce anything a reasonable farmer would ask, and there has been no 
failure of crops in it since the first settlement of the country, some forty-five 
years ago. 

This valley stretches from Portland on the north to twenty miles beyond 
Eugene City on the south, and covers a great portion of eight counties. The 
area of the tract is stated roughly at about 4,500,000 acres. Not much over 
one-fifth of this great area is under cultivation. The great drawback to 
rapid improvement in the totals of the available products for sale or export, 
is the extensive acreage in too few hands. Many of the early settlers in the 
valley have used the many opportunities their position gave them to add field 
to field, and even farm to farm. The old donation claims gave a half section 
to the man and the other half of the section to his wife. Many of these 
whole-section men have bought or otherwise acquired the quarter section 
homestead or pre-emption claims joining their own wide section. In very 
many cases of this kind, not one-half of the land owned is put under culti- 
vation, but lies, as nature left it, covered with rough pasture or light, 
scattering rose bush. Time, and not a long time either, will redress these 
evils, and the passing away or retirement of the present generation of owners 
will scatter their precious acquisitions. There is not much Government 
land in this valley, but unimproved tracts can be bought at $5 to $15 per 
acre, or improved farms at $20 to $40. 

The Willamette, a navigable river, rises in the Calapooia Mountains, and 
flows the entire length of the valley. Its general course is north, and in its 



28 ' OREGON. 

flow it gathers up the waters of forty-two streams, some of which are navig- 
able for steamboats of ordinary size. The smaller streams are well below 
the general level of the country, making the drainage perfect. 

Umpqua is another of the famous valleys of Oregon. It is north of the 
Rogue River country, and between the mountains of the Calapooia spur and 
the Coast Range. The climate is genial, and very even throughout the year. 
The Umpqua Valley has an agricultural capacity equal to any in Oregon, 
except the Willamette and Umatilla. The only resemblance to a valley it 
presents, as a whole, consists in a basin-like depression which the center of 
the country forms when contrasted with the high mountains encompassing 
it. The Calapooias on the north, Cascades on the east, Canon and Rogue 
River mountains on the south, and that portion of the Coast Range known 
as the " Umpquas " on the west, hem it in with high walls of rock and timber. 
The interior of this great basin is composed of small valleys, plains, canons, 
gorges and mountains. Formerly the Umpqua was a great stock country,, 
but gradually its pastures have disappeared before the plow, and cattle have 
given way to grain; still, the stock interest is considerable. On the bottom 
lands r the excellent winter pasturage, at a season when stock on the Atlantic 
('oast are being fed on hay, renders the Umpqua region especially adapted 
for dairying. When the timber portion has been cleared of its dense growth 
of trees and shrubs, the flats, hills and bottoms become extremely valuable for 
agriculture and grazing. The soil is generally a dark mold, derived from 
the decomposition of vegetable matter, such as leaves, fallen trees, which 
have been going on for ages, mingled in the valleys with the deposits brought 
down from the mountains in seasons of high water. A rich loam is frequently 
met with. As a fruit-growing region, it is unsurpassed, and is a very desir- 
able region, we may say one of the best in the State, for sheep and wool 
production. 

Rogue River Valley lies midway between the Willamette and Sacramento 
valleys. It is especially noted for its fruit, ranking, in this respect, equal to 
the most favored places in the country. The climate is splendid the whole 
year through, and the soil is prolific. The crops of grain and vegetables are 
marvelous in the eves of the Eastern farmer. The soil of the foothills is 
quick, rich brown loam, and in the valley proper, a deep, rich black vege- 
table loam. The valley has the best of local markets, and good transportation 
facilities to Portland and San Francisco. 

Rogue River flows through the country for about forty miles. and furnishes 
a line valley of rich. Bandy loam for about eighteen miles. The valley is 
from one to four miles wide for this distance, backed with high, rolling hills 
covered with an excellent growth of timber. Below this valley the river 
cuts its way through the mountains to the sea, with but Little tillable land on 
either side. Rogue River is a beautiful stream, with an average width of 
about :')()() feet, and a depth of three to four feet, with a fall of twenty feet to 
the mile. Williams Creek and the Apple gate River form a narrow valley 
of very rich land about thirty miles long. These valleys are already noted 
for their wonderful productiveness. Jump- Off- Joe, Grave and Wolf creeks 
are streams of some importance, each forming small valleys of agricultural 
and grazing lands. The Illinois River, with its tributaries of Deer Creek, 






OREGON. 29 

Sucker Creek and Althouse Creek, form the valleys upon the western si de 
•f the country. There is upon each of these streams many acres of fine agri- 
cultural land, much of it still covered with brush. 

There is considerable Government and railroad land in this region, mostly 
rolling hills and small valleys, covered with timber and brush. Small tracts 
of Government land, partly open, can be found by taking time to hunt it out. 
Better land can be bought for small sums, and many places with improve- 
ments are for sale cheap by persons who have not perfect titles. Many pieces 
of excellent land are held here by miners and hunters who are not familiar 
with its value, and as they know little, and care less, about agriculture, their 
property can be bought very reasonably. To people of small means, who 
are hunting desirable homes, this section offers many inducements. 

Aside from the Willamette, no valley in the State attracts more attention 
than that through which flows the Umatilla River. It embraces the famous 
wheat-growing region of the northern portion of Eastern Oregon. Umatilla 
County is very extensive, and its agricultural capacity is simply enormous. 
The soil is of the richest known in the State, and peculiarly adapted to the pro- 
duction of the cereals. All these produce abundantly, especially wheat. Aside 
from this, the stock interest of Umatilla Valley is very great. Tens of 
thousands of sheep and cattle are wintered in the foothills, and pastured in 
the mountains in the summer. There are half a dozen bright, active, thrifty 
towns in this famous region, with good schools and churches, and good 
society. The immigrant who intends to follow stock raising, dairying, or 
general farming, will rind all the conditions favorable in Umatilla Valley. 

This region is well watered by the Umatilla River and its tributaries, such 
as Butter, Wild Horse, Birch creeks and others in the central portion, and 
the Walla Walla, Tumalum and Pine Creek further north. There is also an 
abundance of springs, and water is found most everywhere at a depth of from 
fifteen to sixty feet. Lying along the base of the Blue Mountains is a soil 
that, in patches of 1,000 acres, has averaged thirty-five bushels of wheat to 
.the acre, while smaller fields have averaged fifty. Umatilla was formerly a 
great stock region, but that industry has of late years been superseded 
largely by wheat raising aud wool growing. 

Another of the fertile and pleasantly located valleys in Eastern Oregon is 
Grande Ronde, in Union County. It contains upwards of 280,000 acres of the 
best farming lands, and its soil is adapted to wheat, rye, oats, barley and all 
kinds of vegetables. As a stock-raising region it is unsurpassed. It is one 
of the most fertile valleys on the Pacific Slope, well watered, and very pro- 
ductive of fruit, grain, vegetables and hay. Wheat often yields from forty 
to fifty bushels to the acre, and oats and barley from sixty to eighty. Grande 
Ronde River flows in from the Blue Mountains, and follows an exceedingly 
crooked channel through the Valley. There are many similar streams run- 
ning down from the mountains, and along the foothills copious springs break 
forth, thus affording an abundance of water, which converts most of the 
valley into a natural meadow. Timber is conveniently near in the surround- 
ing mountains. The climate is subject to greater extremes than that of the 
region west of the Blue Mountains, though the winters are not usually 
severe. 



80 OREGON. 

A section of this region, as yet but thinly settled, is the beautiful Wallowa 
Valley. The valley proper is some forty miles long and about twenty wide, 
including the arable foothills. It is attracting much attention from immi- 
grants looking for cheap, yet desirable lands. 

There are several small valleys in Union County. Oi*e of these, Indian 
Valley, situated north of Grande Ronde Valley, is quite thickly settled, and 
is a rich grain producing section. Pine Valley is a very beautiful place, 
nestling high up in the roughest part of the Eagle Creek Mountains, verj 
much isolated, but containing at present about 200 families. Eagle Vallej 
and Lower Powder River, in the southeastern part of the county, are occu- 
pied by people who are engaged in stock raising. 

Among other fertile valleys are the following: The Columbia Valley, from 
the mouth of the river, 260 miles east, forms the boundary of Oregon and 
Washington, and the strip of valley land on both sides varies from two miles 
to thirty in width, or an average, perhaps, of ten miles. The Columbia, from 
that point, where it turns north, runs through Washington Territory 800 
miles, and the valley has an average width of eighty miles. Josephine, 
twenty-five miles long and four wide; Klamath, fifty miles long and fifteen 
wide; John Day, fifty miles long and five wide; Willow Creek, thirty miles 
long and eight wide; Birch Creek, twenty miles long and six wide; Powder 
River, ten miles long and five wide; Jordan River, fifteen miles long and five 
wide; Burnt River, eight miles long and five wide; Snake, one hundred miles 
long and ten wide; DesChutes, fifty miles long and five wide. In addition to 
these are many other valleys with streams, containing hundreds of 
thousands of acres of land no less fertile and valuable than those detailed. 

There is still remaining large quantites of foothill lands yet unentered, 
which, if put into their appropriate crops, are more desirable than any level 
land, mixed among tracts less valuable. These lands are especially suited 
to the man who, with patience and the help of his family, will soon make 
them into the most* valuable in Oregon. These lands must not be con- 
founded with high, rugged hills. They are similar to the high, rolling lands 
of the Eastern States, and timbered. The foothill farmer of Oregon is 
among the most prosperous of the State, if not on the American continent. 
He lias exceptional advantages over his brethren in the valleys, in his facil- 
ities for stock raising. He has untold acres in the upper hills for "out 
range," upon which he can herd his stock in the summer months, and where 
he can, without difficulty, cut hay enough to feed his cattle and sheep in the 
short winter season of a few weeks. On these foothill lands he can raise 
grain and the best of fruit, grapes and vegetables, and can always have 
Mocks and herds of cattle. With the aid of side-hill plows, these slopes can 
be utilized for raising grain of all kinds, while for orchards and vineyards, 
no better location can be found anywhere.. There is a good deal of fair gov- 
ernment land in these foothill regions, and some for settlement through the 
railway land departments. 

It is gratifying to state that the valleys of the foothill counties of Oregon 
are coming to be appreciated. It is indisputable that the localities verging 
on the Cascade, Blue and Coast Ranges are amongst the most productive 



OREGON. 31 

regions in the State. The inconveniences of early days have all passed 
away, together with the often rapid getting of money, and with it the alter- 
nate enforced idleness. 

The Oregon State Board of Immigration has the following to say about 
government lands: "There has always been more or less misapprehension 
among immigrants regarding government lands in this State, the general 
idea being that there are millions of acres of such lands lying in the valleys, 
and all of it ready for the plow. This is an error. While it is true that in 
some portions of Eastern Oregon the newcomer will find much government 
land of a bunch grass nature, upon which he can locate, still he must not 
expect to find much of it in the vicinity of towns or railways; it is generally 
back toward the hills. In the western and southern portions of the State all 
the government land is timbered or brush land. In some cases the timber 
is heavy — very heavy — in other places it is light or heavy brush land. There 
is no prairie government land in either Western or Southern Oregon, but 
quite large areas in Eastern Oregon. Along the foothills there are some 
sections of government land denominated brush land, and here and there 
in each quarter section a few acres of open land. This is true of the locality 
between Forest Grove and Astoria. It is true of some portions of Columbia 
County, Washington County, Lane and Linn Counties, in Western Oregon. 
In the southern portion of the State, in the Rogue River and Umpqua 
Valleys, and in the Counties of Jackson and Josephine, this land may be 
found. A part of this lies in the small valleys and along the streams. 
These tracts are not extensive, and a comparatively small proportion of the 
whole is available for immediate cultivation. It is possible for the emigrant 
to find now and then an excellent location on government land in the 
localities named here, but it is a mistake to say that ten thousand emigrants 
can be so fortunate. If he must have government land, the newcomer will 
have to take his share of heavy or light timber lands, removed somewhat 
from the lines of transportation and towns. These claims will be valuable 
by and by, and for the present, will, if looked after, provide a good home for 
the emigrant family. But that properly looked after means much patience 
and industry. It is best that the newcomer should realize this truth from 
the start. Lands without timber will be found in Eastern Oregon. These 
are bunch grass lands, and along the northern tier of counties, Wasco, 
Umatilla, Gilliam, and Union, suitable for diversified farming. In the 
southeastern portion of the State, or what is known as the Klamath country, 
the government lands are especially adapted to stock raising." 

It will be observed from the foregoing that Oregon's immense area of 
arable public lands is not in large bodies, but in patches, scattered in even- 
nook and corner throughout the State. Large colonies cannot, therefore, 
expect to accommodate themselves in any one location on good arable lands, 
cleared and ready for the plow. # 

Comparatively, this is a new State; but it has been occupied long enough 
for settlements to spread over the most of the territory, and leave few iso- 
lated spots or tracts of land for large colonies — numbers requiring more than 
6,000 acres in a body. We think it would be somewhat difficult to find 5,000 
acres in a body composed of land of an arable nature, and within the reach 



32 OREGON. 

of people of only moderate means. If the members of a colony can make a 
purchase of some land that is to be deeded in the transfer, and sold for an 
average of $12 to $15 per acre, and most of which is in cultivation, Oregon 
can locate a good many two or three hundred membership colonies, and 
perhaps at a good deal less cost than could be done in other States. If a 
colony is prepared to buy about one-half of the amount of needed land of 
private parties, get some of the balance from the State or the Railway 
Company, and take the balance from the Government, several thousand 
acres in a body thus made, could be had in different portions of the State. 
Where people go as individuals, or in groups of ten or even twenty families, 
and prepared to make part purchase, there need be no difficulty in finding 
settlement in Oregon. Under any other conditions than these, the location 
of large colonies in Oregon is not a matter of easy attainment; indeed, it i» 
not a probable matter at all. 

The United States land laws apply here as elsewhere. Under the home- 
stead law, every head of a family, male or female, or single man over 21 
years, a citizen of the United States, or having declared his intention to 
become such, can enter, on payment of the registry fees, ranging from $7 t© 
$22, eighty acres of any of the lands reserved by the government within the 
limits of the railroad grants, excepting lands bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, 
or copper; and 160 acres if the claim is situated outside of the latter. After 
live years bona fide residence upon and improvement of the land, the Govern- 
ment will give the claimant a clear title. 

Under the pre-emption laws, persons possessing the same qualifications a* 
claimants under the homestead law, not being in possession of 320 acres in 
any of the States or Territories of the United States, may enter at a land- 
office, on payment of a fee of $2, and establish a pre-emption right; that is, 
a right to purchase a tract of 160 acres, either within or without the limits of 
a railroad grant, at $2.50 per acre in the former, and at $1.25 in the latter 
case. Where the grant was offered for sale by the government, the land 
must l)e paid for within thirteen months from the date of settlement, other- 
wise within thirty-three months. 

Under the timber culture law, a quarter section, 160 acres, is allowed the 
qualified man or woman, resident or non-resident, who pays $14 fees, and 
thereafter breaks or plows five acres the first year, cultivates it the second 
year, and plants to (ores! trees, cuttings or seeds the third year; and, begin- 
ning the second year, breaks another five acres, and cultivates and plant* 
the third and fourth years. When he gets his ten acres the lawful area — 
planted, he keeps the trees cultivated and in good growing condition for 
four years more, or eight years from date of entry. If at that time he can 
show 6, 750 healthy trees, lie will be granted title on paying $4 land-office 

Under the desert land law, which applies„to large tracts in Eastern Oregon, 
any citizen qualified as above, can enter 640 acres of land which will not 
produce without irrigation, by paying twenty-rive cents per acre at time of 
entry, and within three years making proof that such legal sub-division had 
been re-claimed by conducting water thereon, and paying an additional $1 
per acre, these being the requirements to secure title. 



OREGON. :-*:; 

Some tine tracts of railway land along the line of the Oregon & California 
road, in the Willamette Valley, and in Southern Oregon, may be had. In 
Eastern Oregon these lands are chiefly in the hands of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad Company, and the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. These 
lands are sold on ten year's time, at From $2.50 to $10 per acre, or at 10 per 
cent, less for cash. 

The State Government has also for sale a considerable quantity of desira- 
ble land, granted to it by the United States. Prices are about the same as 
for railroad lands. The State Land-office is at Portland. 

There are five government land-offices in Oregon, located at Oregon City, 
Clackamas County: Roseburg, Douglas County; Lakeview, Lake County.; 
The Dalles, Wasco County: La Grande, Union County. 

The immigrant possessed of some means will always do better in Oregon 
as everywhere else, by investing them in purchasing lands already under 
cultivation, than by purchasing Avild lands, provided he is careful not to pay 
too high a price, and to obtain a good title, for he will thus make his labor 
at once productive, and avoids the loss of time and hardship incident To a 
new settlement. The greater number of immigrants, however, cannot be 
expected to be in a position to take the more advantageous course, but will 
have to avail themselves of the openings for settlement on government and 
railway lands. To them the fact is of consequence, that the mild climate 
greatly lessens the discomforts of the first years of the life of new settlers, 
and that the legitimate rewards of the husbandman's patient toil are nowhere 
more certain to be reaped than in Oregon. 

Newcomers often find it to their advantage to rent well improved farms 
for a year or two. This practice enables them to become familiar with the 
country before settling permanently, and protects them from the mistakes 
incidental to hasty locations. The usual rates of rent are, one-half of the 
crop to the owner, if he furnishes, besides the farm, the seeds and imple- 
ments. 

Finally, after the public domain in this State has been exhausted, (and it 
will not be long to that date), the land in Oregon will very quickly go up to 
an average, probably three times as high as the present one. The man who 
owns 160 acres of Oregon land has a fortune for his children. The second 
Oregon is coming on. The present State and people are rich. The average 
farm entered twenty years ago at $1.25 per acre, is worth $30 an acre to-day. 
This makes an appreciation of many millions. The second Oregon will reap 
still more because of the land limits. In ten years, the $1.25 to $30 will be 
$30 to $70 and $75. It is wisdom to invest now, if it is intended to invest at 
all. Go there with a will to work, and your industry and careful efforts will 
reward you. For almost any sum of money between $5 and $50 an acre, a 
man can get one or a hundred acres of laud convenient to town, trans- 
portation, schools, churches, and other advantages of this nature; land that 



34 OREGON. 

will produce all the grain, fruits and vegetables of the temperate zone of 
America. Pie can find the same in a climate where nectarines, figs, almonds 
and the best of all kinds of fruit and corn, as well as wheat, find a natural 
home. He can be suited as to climate, soil, prices, productions; in a word, 
if he is at all reasonable, he cannot go amiss of his object in Oregon. 



OREGON TIMBER. 



Twenty-five thousand square miles, or 16,000,000 acres of the mountain 
and coast lands of Oregon are covered by a growth of timber such as, in 
diversity and size, no other like space on the earth's surface can boast of. 
You can pick your way for miles through these forests, where the ground 
could not give room for the cordwood of trees felled and worked up. If 
"inexhaustible" were not a term unknown to the lexicon of this age, we 
should apply it to the timber supply of the Columbia River. The quan- 
tity of timber, near and remote, available for lumber, is simply prodigious. 
These 16,000,000 acres of forest will yield 50,000 to 200,000 feet per acre. 
There are billions upon billions of feet, equal to the best product of any 
other country, ready whenever it may be wanted. Certainly, so far as the 
present generation is concerned, the supply is inexhaustible, assuring the 
continuance of a great industry, which must soon grow to larger dimensions. 
The annual output of logs, now about 200,000,000 feet, might be ten times 
multiplied next year, and the production maintained on that basis for an 
indefinite period. 

The varieties of chief economic value are Douglas or Oregon pine, yellow 
fir, black spruce, hemlock, white pine, Oregon cedar, arbor vita3, yellow 
Cyprus, oak, broad-leaved maple, dogwood, arbutus, aspen and cottonwood. 
The Douglas pine, or red fir, attains a height of 200 to 300 feet, is straight as 
an arrow, and is the red hickory of America. It is sent across two oceans 
to the shipyards of Europe, because, as the French experts at Toulon dock 
yards reported, after the severest tests known: "The masts and spars arc* 
woods rare and exceptional for dimensions, and superior qualities, strength, 
lightness, absence from knots and other grave vices; they may be bent and 
twisted several times in contrary directions without breaking." Lloyds, the 
English builders, report of it: "We have tested all the woods in the world, 
and find the red fir best." A stick of this wood an inch square, resisted 2,000 
pounds, while other woods broke at 1,500 and 1,000 pounds pressure. They 
broke squarely off, while, finally, when the red fir did part, it broke in a 
long rent. The red fir often measures 200 to 250 feet in height, with trunks 
nine feet in diameter, clear of branches up for 150 feet. Out of such trees 
eighteen rail cuts have been made, and 5,000 to 10,000 feet of lumber. 
Elder Stocks from eighteen to thirty inches in circumference, hazel bushes 
from one to five inches in diameter, are of common occurrence. Lumber is 
cut from alder loga measuring twenty to thirty inches in diameter. In the 
forests south of the Umpqua, the yellow pine is found, as also an abundance 
of white or sugar pine, the wood of which is in great demand. For com- 



OREGON. 35 

mercial and industrial purposes*, the red cedar, red rir, hemlock, sugar pine, 
maple and ash are the most valuable. Black walnut and hickory have been 
introduced and cultivated with success. 

The completion of the Union Pacific's Oregon Short Line branch to 
Portland has opened up a lumber market as far east as Chicago, whose 
demands it is impossible, with present facilities 'to fill. Regular shipments 
over the Union Pacific began in August, 1885, and continued during the 
remaining months of the year at an average rate of about 1,000,000 feet per 
month. In 1886, the shipments averaged 2,000,000 feet/ per month; and for 
1887 the shipments were close upon 4,000,000 feet per month, One mill in 
Portland saws exclusively for the Eastern trade, another sends about one- 
half its product East, and several others make occasional shipments. The 
income from this source alone during the past year has been upwards of 
half a million dollars. The demand has grown steadily month by month, 
and it is believed that by May, 1888, shipments will aggregate 10,000,000 feet 
per month. This rapid development is not the result of a " boom " effort, 
but has been in response to legitimate demands. 

The market is everywhere — Denver, Salt Lake City, Omaha, and on as far 
east as Chicago. Railroads east of the Mississippi River have begun to use 
Oregon lumber, and it is coming to be known in the building trades. For 
farming and other work requiring strength, it is without equal in the light 
lumbers of the East. The greater number of Eastern orders are for heavy 
timbers, and it goes for the most part in this form. Train loads now go East 
over the Union Pacific Railway almost daily. The lumber consumption of 
the Union Pacific Railway alone is very great, sufficient to employ several 
mills, while that of the country into wiiich it must introduce and carry the 
product is beyond estimate. Already this Eastern demand has put new life 
into lumber manufacture and to general industry on the Columbia River. 
There is not an idle mill, and the capacity of several of the old establishments 
has been increased. In one Portland mill, which works exclusively upon 
Eastern orders, the saws are in motion night and day. Persons not familiar 
with the lower Columbia country, its business and industries, cannot appre- 
ciate the importance of this activity to a large body of the population. The 
lumber industry is the wheel which sets other wheels in motion. The money 
paid for logs goes through the hands of the logger to the owner of the timber, 
the workman in the camps, the boatmen in the river, the breeders of oxen, 
the producers of feed and provisions — in short, its benefits reach every 
interest in the river community. 

It should not be understood that this new Eastern lumber trade is all, or 
even a large share, of Oregon's lumber business. It is dwelt upon in detail 
only because it is new. On the lower Columbia River there are six or seven 
large merchant mills, which saw exclusively for the California and foreign 
trade, product aggregating from 75,000,000 feet to 100,000,000 feet per year. 
At the mouth of the Umpqua River there are two large mills, which saw 
for the export trade, and there are five or six mills of the same kind in Coos 
Bay. Much of this lumber finds its way to Australia, China, Japan and 
South America. Besides these merchant mills, there are several mills in 
every county which saw exclusively for the domestic market. 



36 OREGON. 

As to the grand openings in Oregon for additional capital and enterprise 
in this industry, we quote" the following from an issue of the Portland 
Oregonian: " The lumber business in Oregon is capable of indefinite expan- 
sion. The timber supply, as stated above, is practically unlimited, and the 
market is the world. There is no danger of overdoing the business. Every 
mill added is an aid toward the erection of a grand lumber mart, which 
Oregon is destined to be. The establishment of fifty mills would be in the 
nature of co-operation with the mills now in existence. The future of this 
business is assured, not less by the merits of our lumber and the favor with 
which it has been received, than by the decline in the Eastern supply. The 
pine lands of the Northern States are not yet exhausted, but a point has been 
reached from where the end is seen. The supply is visibly 'short.' It is this 
that has advanced prices to a figure which enable our lumbermen to 
compete. There is no other source available, and the demand must 
continue and grow." 

From the above facts the conclusion will readily be reached that good 
building material is among the cheap things in Oregon. Fair lumber for 
building purposes can be had all along the coast, rivers and railway lines 
for from $6.50 to $10 per thousand. In the Eastern portion of the State. 
where the transportation is more expensive on account of the longer hauling, 
the price is, of course, a trine in advance of this. But in all parts of the State 
building is inexpensive as compared with prices east of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. Saw mills are a feature of almost every locality, certainly of every 
distinct neighborhood and town. 

THE PRECIOUS METALS. 

Oregon has never been regarded as a mining region, and we hear but little 
of its promising gold and silver districts, because of the overshadowing 
importance of its agricultural and forest resources. But Oregon contains 
some rich old mineral fields, which have 1 sent out millions in gold and silver, 
and in many districts new developments are being made, which promise t<> 
soon put the State among the foremost of those in the list of bullion pro- 
ducers. In Eastern Oregon, along the Oregon Short Line, are do/ens of 
extensive districts, promising very well, but of which little can be said, 
because of their slight development. The mineral belt along the Blue 
Mountain Range in Eastern Oregon, of which Baker City is the centre, i> 
about 100 miles long from east to west, and varies in width from twenty t<> 
thirty-five miles, and embraces both placer and quartz mines. The Virtue 
Mine, near Baker City, has yielded $2,000,000, some of its quartz running 
$10,000 to the ton. The famous Connor Creek gold mine is forty-five miles 
from Baker City. Within a radius of forty miles from the same place are 
the Rye Valley, Monument and Cable Lode Silver Mines, all rich fissure 
veins and surrounded by others. The gulches of Baker County yield aearly 
$500,000 per year, and have maintained that yield for some twenty years. 

There is a vast area of rich placer ground there worthy the attention of 

capital. 

In Jackson, Coos, Curry and .Josephine Counties, in Southwestern Oregon, 
is an extensive mineral belt, which has been a good producer of gold ever 



OREGON. 37 

since 1851, and yet its merits are only now being thoroughly appreciated, 
since the extension of railways into that portion of the State, which has 
added much needed facilities for economical working of the mines. 

The above and other districts have been so thoroughly and freshly treated 
by that Oregon authority on mines, Prof. Herbert Lang, in the Portland 
Oregonian, of January 2, 1888, that we feel justified in reproducing his 
report, which follows almost in full: 

"The past year has been memorable in the records of mining in the North- 
west, not only for the discoveries which have been chronicled, but more 
particularly for its remarkable confirmation in many instances of the hopes 
and expectations which were engendered by the discoveries of the previous 
year. It is true that during 1887 no great and promising mining region was 
first made known, but it is distinguished beyond all other years as a season 
of development and proving of mines. In no other year, nor indeed in any 
two years, has so much development work been carried on, particularly in 
the northern districts. Mining has now taken on the aspects of a business 
to be followed as other businesses are, and, as we shall point out, the art is 
beginning to be regarded as something to be first learned and then practiced 
in the light of increased knowledge and skill. The time has been, in Port- 
land, -when such knowledge and skill were not regarded as essential in this 
pursuit; but with the experience gathered from Alaska to the California 
line, and from Idaho to Tillamook County, this belief in the ability of any- 
body and everybody to conduct mining operations profitably is being slowly 
given up. The experience gained in the Monumental. Lucky Queen, 
Bonanza and such * mines ' has been of value in instructing our mining 
investors — who are very shrewd men as a rule — ' how not to do it,' and 
enabling them to carry on the successful working of such real mines as the 
Tyler, the Sierra Nevada, the Keystone and the Swinden with common sense, 
and even with skill. There has been a most decided improvement within 
the last year, manifesting itself not more in the number and quality of the 
mines possessed, than in the mode of working them. The produc- 
tion of the precious metals in the State, during 1887, is reckoned by 
the reviewer to be $570,000. There is every prospect, however, that during 
the present year, should no unforeseen accidents occur, this aggregate will be 
doubled. As the reader proceeds with the account he will find that the 
quartz milling capacity of the State is enormously increased by the building 
of the Keystone, Whitman and Bradley mills, whose output this year is likely 
to reach several hundred thousand dollars. Besides, it is probable that the 
Eureka-Excelsior, the Swinden, and other companies will construct mills 
this year, in which case the aggregate product of the State may well be 
doubled. 

"Southern Oregon — No preceding year has seen so many active and skillful 
prospectors in the hills of Southern Oregon as this. In the way of quartz 
prospecting, a great deal of labor has been performed, while the results have 
not been too encouraging. The quality of the gold-bearing quartz on which 
this year's locations were made is very poor, numerous assays of hand* 
samples and 100-pound test lots rarely showing a possible working profit. 



38 OREGON. 

The persistence of the prospectors is not unlikely, however, to yield impor- 
tant fruit in the future. A large portion of this beautiful and diversified 
region still remains unexplored, and with geological formations all in their 
favor, they should be able ultimately to strike pay rock. Now that the rage 
for great bodies of low grade free-milling gold quartz is on, it may be of 
service to the general prospector to learn that extensive veins of this dis- 
cription exist in Southern Oregon, especially on the lower Rogue River 
about Galice Creek, which, as they are not all held as yet, may be worth 
locating upon and examining. 

"The principal mining work carried on this year in Jackson County 
was in the development of the Hope and Pilgrim ledges, on Wagner Creek, 
and the noted Swinden mine near Gold Hill. A force of fifteen men, 
in the interests of a firm of Chicago people, are engaged in working the 
Hope claim. A small quartz mill was running on ore for a part of the 
year, and said to be paying from $8 to $12 per ton, but the results 
have not been made public. The ownership of the Swinden mine changed 
during the autumn, the old fellow who gave name to the property having 
been got rid of, and the mine and mill coming under one ownership. The 
company who now own and control this property have an extensive mine 
containing an apparently unlimited amount of quartz, easily extracted and 
easily milled by the ordinary free gold process, and a ten-stamp mill driven 
by steam. Their opportunities for making money are very good. They 
might, and certainly ought, to build a large stamp mill of the best design, 
to contain not less than thirty stamps, located upon the Rogue River, only 
two miles away, to which, by means of an aerial wire tramway, or a light 
railway, their ores could be transported and milled as cheaply as quartz can 
be milled in any locality in the world. 

"As to the Swinden mine, nobody who knows it will deny that it has stood 
the process of development better than any other property in the region. It 
is one of the most extraordinary ore deposits in Oregon. It is developed 
by open cuts of moderate depth, and shows a body of loose, friable quartz 
mixed with clay, which assays from $2.50 to $20, and is probably fifty feet 
wide. The average assay value is not known, but the whole mass is said to 
mill $4 or $5. The same company owns the Knott, a neighboring- claim, 
whose development has been pushed during the year with reported good 
results. The vigor and energy shown by this company are commendable, 
and it is a pleasure to say that they are beyond the realms of uncertainty 
and are treading on sure ground. Their future work will doubtless prove 
very profitable. 

"No reports of extraordinary yields come from the Placer mines of Apple - 
gate and the rest of Jackson County, but the yield is supposed to have been 
good, considering the disadvantages concerning water under which the 
miners labor. There are vast stretches of very good placer ground, which, 
but lor Lack of water, could be regularly and profitably worked. Especially 
is this true of the upper Applegate region, where the gravels are very thick, 
but they lie frequently upon the brows of lofty hills, where water cannot be 
brought without a very great outlay. Even on the apex of the divide 



OREGON. 39 

between Jacksonville and the Applegate there are very good dry placers, 
which still produce a little when the dirt is carried to water, and would be 
profitable if it were possible to work them thoroughly. 

"Jackson County possesses two quartz mills, that of the Gold Hill Com- 
pany, near Gold Hill station, of ten stamps, steam, daily capacity twenty-live 
tons, and the little five-stamp steam battery which formerly formed a part 
of Mr. Chick's reduction works at Medford, but now does duty upon the 
Pilgrim ledge. Its capacity is probably five tons daily. As to other appa- 
ratus, the arrastre at the Rotan ledge, and Messrs. Koehler & Brandt's 
Huntington mill, on Wagner Creek, complete the category. 

"It is well to set the year's production of gold from Jackson County's mines 
at $60,000, of which from $5,000 to $10,000 was derived from the quartz. 
The remainder is placer gold. It will be noticed that the estimate is appre- 
ciably lower than those furnished by newspapers. 

"A great many strangers have entered upon mining in Josephine County 
since the construction of the Oregon & California Railway, and more will fol- 
low. This county possesses a large scope of country, which, if not mineral, is 
nothing at all. The new mines opened, or old ones re-opened, are the 
Coyle ledge, on Coyote Creek, a very fine looking quartz vein, which it is 
hoped will prove a mine; the Raging, or Roaring Bill, the Brown & Brazee 
placer claim on Grave Creek, bought by Mr. Hughes ' when the snow was 
on the ground' for $25,0C0; the Stanley claim, near Woodville, which yields 
some very good twelve-dollar quartz. Besides there were a great number 
of new discoveries, like that of the Woodcock mine near Kirbyville, which 
made much noise, but the assays generally ran too low. 

" The St. Peter's mine, on Grave Creek, owned by Smith, of Grant's Pass, 
Carrel and Capt. Young, of Portland, was incorporated in a joint stock com- 
pany, and a considerable expenditure was made in developing the claim, 
concerning which accounts differ greatly. Mr. Smith declares that to go 
ahead with the works will infallibly lead right straight into the largest ore body 
ever disclosed in Oregon ;while one or two disinterested people, of less sagacity, 
however, deny that there is anything in sight or out of sight. It is to be hoped 
that additional explorations will be made upon this lode, which yields upon 
the surface quartz of the richest description. The whole of Southern Oregon, 
as regards mining, is a country of magnificent prospects. Nearly every new 
arrival, finding at first such rich prospects, jumps at once to the conclusion 
that vast riches await him, and consequently the country has been badly 
underrated. Eventually, after a suitable and discriminating study of the 
potentialities of the region he concludes that the pay rock as a rule doesn't 
'go down'; but it does not necessarily follow that there are no mines to be 
found, for there are just enough instances of good mines to keep alive the 
name of Southern Oregon as a quartz mining region. Like charity, which 
is said to cover a multitude of sins, the Swinden claim, for example, will 
offset a vast number of failures in mines which were no mines. 

"The Galice Creek placer mines have attracted more attention of late than 
at any previous time since the celebrated craze about the Big Yank ledge. 
Some fifty miners, of whom half are Chinese, work on the Creek, while two 
hydraulic mines, the Blue Gravel and the English companies (now Cameron 



40 OREGON. 

*fc Ennis) employ perhaps twenty more, using two giants each. The quan- 
tity of pay gravel in the region is very large, but the water available in the 
comparatively short ditches — of which few in Southern Oregon exceed five 
miles — is quite limited, while the depth of gravel exceeds 100 feet in certain 
tracts. 

"The limited mining interests of Douglas County have not enlarged during 
the year. The Oregon nickel mine, near Riddle, under the able charge of 
Mr. Brown, has made some progress, but the great question of the proper treat- 
ment of the ores, which, as is well known, consist of the double silicate of 
nickel and magnesia (this mine forming one of the only two workable 
deposits of oxidized nickel ore known in the world), still remains the 
stumbling-block that it has been for years. The ordinary process of fusion 
has been canvassed fully by the proprietors of this great mine, and the 
writer of this article has had the honor to recommend a solving or leaching 
process as being more liable to produce a pure metal. 

"The Green Mountain Mine, on Starve-Out Creek, a tributary of Cow 
Creek, of which so much was said, has not made progress this year. No 
plans for development have been carried out; the work carried on consisting 
in drifting for ' pockets.' Some slight dissensions among stockholders are 
said to have caused the trouble, and as this may soon be rectified, it is 
reasonable to expect that this mine, which is a very extensive and promis- 
ing deposit, indeed, will again begin work, this time in a sensible and 
business-like way. The ores, which carry lime to some extent, and were 
supposed to contain a fair average of gold, might be smelted with copper 
sulphide ores, of which there are large quantities within an accessible dis- 
tance, to a matte which would contain the gold, and might be shipped away 
for separation. Copper is at such a price that that metal alone would pay 
the entire expense of treating the Green Mountain ore. 

" Developments to considerable extent have been made on a ledge on the 
headwaters of Sucker Creek, an affluent of the south fork of the 
Coquille River, at the southeastern extremity of Coos County, where the 
common angle of Josephine and Douglas Counties ensues. The claim is 
being prospected, it is said, with encouraging results. On Sixes River, in 
Curry County, a promising placer claim has made a very fair output, it is 
said. The black sand mines along the coast have kept up their yield in 
several cases, but the interest of their working chiefly centers about the new 
processes for working the sands, a number of new inventions having been 
tried this year. It is not impossible, and, indeed, it seems from a casual 
thought, very probable that the burlap machines, which are used ><> success- 
fully in saving the fine gold of the Snake River plains, which is notoriously 
difficult to save, might be used with the greatest advantage in the coast 
beach sands. The machines cost little to set up or run, are durable, and 
where there is plenty of water, do their work finely, and give the best of 
satisfaction. In fact, they are indispensable in working the Snake River 
sands, and are well worth an exhaustive trial by the coast miners. 

" Western Oregon. -More prospecting has been done in the past year in the 
Santiam country, than ever before. A number of locations were made, the 
most of them in the neighborhood of the White Bull mine, southeast of 



OREGON. 41 

Meharaa. The veins in this region are very large and extensive, and cam- 
gold, usually in connection with sulphides of lead, iron, copper, and zinc. 
The White Bull Company have proceeded with development of their mine, 
which is held by patent, and for that purpose have run a new tunnel at a 
point considerably lower than the previous workings. The Canal Fork 
Company, near by, have in the lowest workings found the vein narrowed 
down to a comparatively thin sheet of soft, friable quart/ of slight value. 
It is a great pity that these companies do not set about to ascertain the 
working value of the vast bodies of low grade quartz which lie fully exposed 
in the top of their mines, rather than seek for imaginary deposits at lower 
levels. It may be that the Canal Fork, whose quartz body in the upper 
workings is forty to fifty feet wide, may prove, not a second Homestake or 
Father DeSmet, but a very well paying and cheaply worked gold mine. 
The same may be said of the White Bull. These mines both contained 
small amounts of very rich quartz upon the surface, but instead of being 
benefited, both appear to have been injured by the occurrence, subsequent 
workings being largely directed to finding other rich deposits of the same 
sort, instead of proceeding to legitimate and thorough developments. There 
is still plenty of time, however, to develop mines in the Santiam country. 

"Much interest was occasioned by reporting discoveries along the line of 
the now-building Oregon Pacific Railroad, about Brightenbush Creek, a 
tributary of the North Santiam. Nothing can be said at present regarding 
their extent. In the vicinity of the summit of the pass of the Cascades. 
over which the railroad grade is now extending, gold bearing gravel is found, 
and claims have been taken thereon this year. 

" The Blue River district received last year a decided accession to its niining 
population. Several locations, some very promising, were made this year, 
and some of those previously located have been worked considerably, espe- 
cially the Eureka claim, owned by Frank Mason and others, of Portland, who 
are prospecting their mine with a view of putting up a mill to work the ore. 
For milling on a large scale, there are few better localities than Blue River, 
because water power, timber and quartz abound, and the climate is unsur- 
passed. The claims in this vicinity are mainly controlled by Eugene parties, 
among whom are several of the most reputable citizens of the place. 

" Eastern Oregon — The experience of quartz miners during 1887. in Grant. 
Union and Baker Counties, has been, on the whole, very favorable, perhaps 
more favorable than ever before. There have been two or more pronounced 
failures — failures, too, where the mines were wholly in fault. But, on the 
other hand, there have been several successes, to more than balance the 
account. There has been improvement as much in the modes of working 
as in the value of the quartz found, and, to all appearance, there has been a 
general getting down to business. Especially is this true of Pine creek. 

u The Keystone mine has been well opened, under the intelligent direction 
of Frank Watson. His first care was to prospect the mine thoroughly, so as 
avoid great mistakes in the erection of costly machinery. Next, he pro- 
ceeded to make a number of long and thoroughly conducted mill runs in a 
little old five stamp mill belonging to the mine. These mill runs, continued 



42 OREGON. 

through the year, have produced about $0,000, being at the rate of about 
$£0 perton. Eaving done this much, and being well assured of the value 
and peculiarities of Keystone ores, and knowing by means of the explora- 
tions which were carried on contemporaneously, the extent of the ore 
deposit, Mr. Watson had no further hesitation in building a very complete 
ten stamp quartz mill, which is now ready for continued operation. Here 
is an example which ought to be generally followed. It consists in the 
application of common sense to the problems of mining, and is one of the 
best examples to which we can now point Next year the Keystone will 
probably repay the money that has been expended in purchasing and 
developing the property, and take its place in the list of dividend payers. 

"The Eureka-Excelsior claim, at Cracker Creek, lately purchased by 
Jonathan Bourne, Jr., and two associates, is thought, by those who are in 
position to know, to be one of the most, promising mines owned in Oregon. 
The character of the ore and its quantity are said to be remarkably favor- 
able. The Lode or vein is no less than forty feet in width, with a rich streak 
down the ('(Miter, four feet in width, along the adit, which assays extremely 
high, returns reaching $800 and over, while what is called second-class ore 
goes $50 and $100. The average of the ore in the breast of both tunnels is 
$100 per ton. The outside vein matter carries $15 per ton. The ore con- 
tains sulphuretted minerals in a, gangue of quartz, and is properly a 
concentrating ore, although much of it is rich enough to ship directly to the 
smelter. A forty stamp mill is projected, and will probably be put up in 
the ensuing season. Cracker Creek, which intersects the ledge, affording 
excellent working facilities, is a, stream (lowing 250 miner's inches, with 
ample water-power for milling purposes, air' compression, etc., and drains 
into Granite Creek, an important tributary of the John Day River. The 
Important point to outsiders is, that if this property begins outputting next 
year, it is likely to double the total gold product o( Eastern Oregon. 

"Of developments at Rock Creek, Silver Creek, and Other newly discovered 

regions of the Blue Mountains, t he most encouraging reports are received. 
The work done thus far in both these 4 localities has been very satisfactory, 
and it is very likely more extensive Operations may be in store for the next 

year. The Chloride mint 4 has begun shipping ore. The Tabor & Tracy 
mine, in Granite district, is reported to be 'in bonanza, 1 and the mill has 
been enlarged from live stamps to ten. The Bradley mine, at Sanger, Union 

County, has been crushing from fourteen to twenty Ions per day, with much 
more rock in sight. 'Theirs is a ten stain]) pan mill, and the rock is said to 

average $46 per ton. The property belongs to the 0. F. Bradley Mining 
Company, who have spent $100,000 in the claim, etc. A mill is proposed 

also for the Golden Monarch mine, in (iranite district. The Worloy mine, 
in the same neighborhood, owned by Wol fe and ot hers, of Baker City, is said 
to have been sold lately. It contains some exceedingly rich ore, some of 
which has been crushed at the Bonanza mill. 

"The heaviest monetary transaction of the year was the sale of the Nelson 

placer mine, Baker County, to some California capitalists, who are said to 
have paid $150,000 for the property, while another report says $300,000. 



OREGON. 48 

They have bonded the Auburn water ditch, thirty-four miles long, for $35, 
000, and will begin operations with fifty mon very shortly. 

"Pine Creek — Among the most important mining operations now proceed 
ing in Oregon are in connection with certain of the Pine Creek mines, 
owned or controlled by the Oregon Gold Mining Company, of Louisville, 
Kentucky. The affairs of this organization are, as is well known, admin 
istered in this State by Professor Luce, under whose direction the Whitman 
mine, and several other claims, near Cornucopia, have been opened. The com 
pany's expenditures for two years past on these properties are said to aggr< 
$200,000, including the cost of the very complete and perfect twenty stamp 
mill, which began operations over a month since. It is said that it is worth 
a visit to Pine Creek to seethe Professor's work on mill and mine, and we 
do not doubt it. The Louisville Company bought the Whitman at an early 
date, soon, after the discovery of the Pine Creek mines, and set to work 
intelligently to explore the claim. An incline, some 130 feet long, showed 
rich ore in a part of its depth, but the vein was found to be faulted at thai 
depth by one of the huge basic igneous dykes, which abound in that region. 
There had been nearly $30,000 expended in development up to that time, 
and the Professor, with more nerve than ever was displayed in a mining 
operation in Oregon before or since, set to work to cut through this obstruc- 
tion, and find the vein on the other side, and in due time the workings 
passed the dyke, and recovered the vein, almost exactly where the Pro', 
expected to find it. Having satisfied himself about the quality and quantity 
of the ore bodies in the Whitman group, the Professor proceeded to lease cer 
tain neighboring properties of value, the large quartz mill, which was ne 
ayearin building, having about reached completion, and ore being desired to 
keep it running. This mill, the largest in Oregon, with the exception of 
that at Connor Creek, is also the completest in detail. Its cost, including 
the prime cost of machinery, the cost of transportation, the expense of grad- 
ing the site, and building the mill, is reported to have been $40,000 a fair 
fortune in itself, and a sum greater than the cost of some very good mine.-. 
It is now running with great success, saving the values to a high percent 
age, and its work, more than anything previously done at Pine (reek, is 
elevating public confidence in the mines of that section. 

"Dr. Howard's experiment at Mr. Breck's Metallurgical works, in treating 
the quartz from 'his claim, resulted very favorably, the result, taken with 
Professor Luce's experience, fully justifying the assertion which the 
reviewer made last year, that the proper treatment of the Pine Creek sul- 
phuretted gold quartz was simply wet stamping in ordinary gold mills, pro- 
vided with quicksilvered plates to catch the free gold, and concentrators 
to take up the sulphurets. Regarding Dr. Howard's work, it Is said that 
the treatment of 1,600 pounds of quartz, assaying $70 per ton, and contain 
ing sulphurets to a large extent, was so successful in saving the values that 
the tailings contained but $1.20 per ton. The novelty in the treatment con- 
sisted in employing a newly invented concentrator, whose details are not at 
hand. 

"Some work has been done in the various claims of Pine (reck, since, the 
last mining review was written, but space prevents mention of the numerous 



44 



OREGON. 



developments made. Some statistical information, contributed by Mr. 
Robert Kelly, superintendent of the Contact mine, and a miner of splendid 
judgment and great experience, will prove of interest. It is tabulated for 
convenience in reference, and deals with the principal mines of the district. 

STATISTICS OF MINES, PINE CREEK DISTRICT. 



NAME OF MINE. 



OWNERS' OR MANAGER'S NAMES. 



Extent of 

workings, 

feet. 



M O 



£ 



Norway 

Red Jacket 

(Jnion 

May Flower 

Last Chance 

Way Up _ 

Whitman 

Forest Queen 

Stella. 

Queen of the West 

KedBoy 

Mountain Chief. 

Companion 

May Queen 

Contact 

Pine Creek. __ 

Star of Evening 

Conundrum 

Robert Emmet 



D. F. Steen & Co., Cornucopia 

W. T. Burdett&Co 

W. T. Burdett&Co 

W. T. Burdett & Co.. 

Howard & Carey, Cornucopia 

Senor & Co., Cornucopia 

Louisville Mining Co., Ky — 

Harley & Co. , Cornucopia 

Fullerton & Co 

J. S. Mills & Co., Pine Valley ._ 

J. S. Mills & Co., Pine Valley ... 

J. S. Mills & Co., Pine Valley.. 

Webb &Co., Cornucopia 

J. Chetham & Co., Cornucopia 

L. Blumauer, Portland _ 

J . Williamson, Union, Ore. 

Gildwell & Co . , Cornucopia 

Pine Valley 

J. C. Moreland and others, Portland 



Tunnel, 
Incline, 
Incline, 
Incline, 
Incline, 
Incline, 



Incline, 
Incline, 



Incline, 
Incline, 



Incline, 



125 
40 
80 
50 
50 
40 

800 
50 
90 
50 
50 
28 

140 
40 

130 

200 
35 
90 



5 

3V2 

3 

2 

4 

3 

21/2 

4 

2 

3 

4 

4 

3V2 

SVfe 

4 

3V2 

2 



;20 

56 
34 
40 
40 
60 
40 
25 
50 
39 
30 
37 
35 
41 
65 
40 
43 
43 



"Some of these claims carry silver to a notable degree, and the Contact is a 
silver mine, pure and simple. The proportion of gold varies somewhat in 
the other claims, some of them, as the Red Jacket, Union, and the others on 
that lode, containing two parts gold to one of silver, while the Stella, Red 
Boy, and Way Up, carry seven of gold to one of silver. It follows that the 
amalgamation of* lied Boy metal would be easier, and take place more cer- 
tainly than would that of the Union. There may be a practical difference 
in their working, on this account. 

"The extension of the mineral fields into Wallowa County, in the extreme 
northeastern pari of the State, was not surprising when one considers the 
nearness of the Pine Creek mines, which lie, it is said, not only in the same 
neighborhood, but in the same belt of rocks. The prevailing mining fever 
spread quite naturally among the substantial citizens of the Wallowa sec- 
tion, and a genuine mining excitement sprang into existence there. Perhaps 
there is good reason for it; at any rate the people of that section have told 
us much from which a tangible and moderate view could be formed of these 
mines, and they have also sent down some very rich specimens of blue ore, 
'bromides,' they persist in calling them, (although bromides are really never 
blue), from which one may form an impression of great riches in 
copper, at least. The accessibility of the region favors its development very 
much, and, in a general way, circumstances there are said to be very favor- 
able to mining on a large, and at the same time, cheap scale. The district 



OREGON. 4;> 

is easily accessible, and a large number of claims and tunnel rights have 
been located, which are being actively worked by the people of the vicinity, 
who have entered upon mining with zest." 

USEFUL MINERALS, ETC 

Alternating with the precious metals, are valuable coal, iron, copper lead 
manganese, nickel, and other mineral deposits, which will soon be utilized 
in smelting works, forges and rolling mills, to make radiant the night and 
furnish the iron bands that shall join the producers of the valleys with the 
armies of consumers in the mountains. Bituminous coal, iron, and copper 
abound in nearly every County in Oregon, while the other minerals and 
metals thus found are the following: Salt, graphite, nickel, potter s clay, 
platinum, pumice, quicksilver, gypsum, slate, gneiss, and esite, barytes, stea- 
tite, brick clavs, manganese, quartz, zinc, mineral waters, marble, sand stone, 
syenite, cement, lead, fire clays, chrome, ochre, iridium, infusorial earth, 
nitre, lime stone, granite, basalt. 

Of Oregon's imposing list, the following are mined or otherwise utilized: 
Gold silver, iron, platinum, iridium, nickel, quicksilver, coal, brick clay, 
potter's clay, mineral waters, granite, marble, lime stone, sand stone, basalt, 
andesite, cement. . 

Coal-At Wilhoit Springs, Clackamas County, is a large deposit of lignite, 
in a horizontal bed. seven feet thick, and of promising appearance, slightly 
prospected. In Nehale Valley, and other parts of Clatsop County, is coal in 
thick strata, apparantlv very valuable, with works in contemplation. At the 
Falls of Beaver Creek, near St. Helens, and elsewhere in Columbia County, 
are large deposits, but not worked. In Coos County is a very extensive 
strata near the bav, worked for many years, and still producing large, v. 
The supply is deemed practically inexhaustible, and beds are said to under- 
lie 500 square miles, and contain a fair quality of coal. Thousands of tons 
are mined and shipped from this region monthly. Over $2,000,000 have 
been invested here in "plant" for working on a large scale. Coal is also 
found on the south fork of the Coquille, in important strata, in conglomer- 
ate, unworked, but judged to be very valuable. Coal also generally occurs 
throughout the Coast Range, from the Columbia to Rogue River, 
Benton County, where it cropsout near the Oregon Pacific Railway. The 
strata is often much contorted and broken, rendering mining difficult and 
expensive. The coal being of a comparatively recent age, probably later 
cretaceous or early oecene, and partaking of the common lignitic character, 
it is not usually classed as high grade. In fact, the most of it is poor. On 
the John Day and its tributaries, much coal is found, which it is proposed 

to mine. . . ... 

/™«-Large deposits of rich, bog, hematite, and magnetic iron ore exist in 
nearly every part of the state. The most important of these is situated in 
Oswego, on the Willamette, about six miles south of Portland. The ore 
from it yields about 54 per cent, of pure iron. Other extensive deposits 
exist in the Counties of Columbia, Tillamook, Marion, Clackamas, Jackson, 



40 OREGON. 

and Coos. A large bed of ore has been found at St. Helens, on the Columbia. 
The deposits near Portland have been worked for twenty years or more, in a 
small way, supplying a single small stack, making a very good quality of 
charcoal pig, salable to local foundrymen, and in San Francisco. These will 
be worked more extensively in the future. In the range of volcanic hills 
bordering the west bank of the Willamette, from St. Helens to near Oswego, are 
deposits constituting a belt of iron ore extending from Kalama, on the south 
bank of the Columbia and the west bank of the Willamette to a point near 
Oregon City, and thence southwestward to the foothills of the Cascades. 
These ores are exceptionally pure, the quantity is great, and all the essentials 
for making first rate iron are at hand. 

There are also deposits of magnetic iron ore, in Coos, Curry and Douglas 
Counties, in grains comprising a greater part of the auriferous black sands 
of the seashore, and also in nodular masses in surpentine. In Jackson 
County is an iron mine mined as flux, for lead smelting, a valuable deposit; 
productions in 1887, 100 tons; value at mine, $3,000. 

Copper — Josephine County contains the largest deposits of workable cop- 
per ores in Oregon, and perhaps in the entire Northwest. They have never 
been worked to any extent, with the exception of the Queen of Bronze mine, 
near the Waldo, from which a small quantity of ore has been extracted. 
There was at one time a considerable interest manifested in these mines, 
but their isolation forbade successful working. At present, however, with 
a railroad passing within forty miles, and the price of copper standing at 
seventeen cents,, it would seem that the Josephine mines ought to be profit- 
ably worked, and more especially as the ores are very rich. There is plenty 
of wood for fuel, and a delightful climate, allowing work throughout the 
year. Some very fine ores, principally copper pyrites, said to carry gold and 
silver, have been lately brought from the vicinity of Table Rock, Clackamas 
County, and exhibited in Portland, with the assurance that there is an 
abundance of similar ore on the Clackamas and Molalla, It is not unlikely 
that the region named may become an important producer of copper. There 
are other less important deposits in other portions of the State. 

Lead Lead is abundant in Wallowa County, and is found in less quantities 
in Clackamas, Linn, Josephine, Douglas, and other Counties. 

Manga nest There is a single locality — in Columbia County- from which 
manganese is exported in large quantities. It was discovered by men who 
mistook it for something far more precious, and whose hopes were da 

on learning that in the commercial way,manganese oxide, the form in which 
it seeks a market, is worth from $10 to $15 per ton. Many important in- 
dustries depend upon the manufacture of manganese. For instance, the 
manufacture of bleaching powders, the generation of chlorine in that import- 
ant and growing art the extraction of gold from its ores by chlorination, 
the production of steel by the Bessemer process, wherein Bplegeleisen, a 
compound of iron and manganese, is used. As none of these arts are prac- 
ticed in this state, it is not to he expected that, except as a matter of export, 
manganese will soon he mined here. We must make the observation equally 
in regard to this substance, as with too many others, which have 1 not come 






OREGON. • 47 

into use in Oregon, that, as there is no inquiry for them, no one has taken 
the trouble to make discoveries of deposits of their ores. If an active de- 
mand were to arise for even so cheap a substance as the black oxide of man- 
ganese, it is likely that not one or two, but fifty or a hundred new localities 
would very soon be reported. 

Nickel Ore— In the Oregon nickel mine, at Riddle, Douglas County, the 
State possesses one of the two great known deposits of oxidized nickel ore. 
In a commercial point of view, this is the most important mine in the State, 
possibly excepting the Oswego iron mine — since the operation and metal- 
lurgic treatment of its ores, a comparatively complex and costly matter, will 
afford employment to a great many persons. Preparations have been made 
for active work, and it is thought that this year will see its- inauguration 
upon a large scale. 

Platinum and Iridium — These two are metals being mined from placers and 
ocean beaches, as an incidental product along with gold. Their production 
depends entirely upon the mining of the metal. There is no way of arriving 
at the yearly output, but it is quite small, not above $5,000. These two 
metals have not yet been found in veins or other deposits in place, although 
so reported from time to time. 

Cinnabar — Fourteen miles northeast of Oakland, Douglas County, are 
extensive deposits of great value, which are now being worked. Also in 
Jackson County, deposits of considerable value have been found. 

Marble, Granite, Etc. — In various and easily accessible portions of the 
State, superior marble and building stone are found, in ample beds for all 
demands. Light colored limestone and olive brown sandstone are plenty. 
Good glass sand and gypsum are found at several points in the State, also 
granite. There are likewise large deposits of kaolin, pottery clays, cement, 
mica and limestone. These latter are being utilized on a mammoth scale, 
and cement works are about to be established. 

It will be seen that there is an infinite variety of industries within the 
reach of Oregon, in connection with the utilization of its immense wealth in 
the useful metals, minerals, etc. The field for enterprise of this character is 
a broad and inviting one. 

MANUFACTURING. 

From preceding pages it has been learned that two essential elements of 
profitable manufacturing, viz: cheapness, and an abundance of raw material 
and fuel, exist in a marked degree, in Oregon. But another, of equal, if not 
greater importance, also exists in the State, viz: abundant waterpower. No 
part of the Union is better supplied with natural power than Oregon. The 
falls at Oregon City, on the Willamette River, alone could supply sufficient 
power for the entire industry of a community with a larger popula- 
tion than that of the whole State, it being equal to over a million-horse 
power, and capable of great extension with little expense. The entire 
volume of the river here falls over a ledge of rocks forty feet high, and the 
surroundings are particularly suited to an easy utilization of all this vast 
power. 

The water power of Salem ranks next to that of Oregon City. It is 



48 OREGON. 

obtained by means of a canal leading the waters of the Santiam River into 
the bed of another smaller stream. A mile east of the town, the channel of the 
latter is divided by races, and approaches the place by two lines. On each 
line there are three falls of from fifteen to twenty feet. It is estimated that 
the power thus provided is equal to that of Lowell, Massachusetts. 

There is also considerable power at Albany, Harrisburg, and Eugene City. 
At Springfield, three miles above Eugene City, great powder is furnished by 
the middle fork of the Willamette. The two other forks of the Willamette 
also afford vast power. The Tualatan River likewise supplies great power. 
On the Yamhill, La Creole, Lackiamute, Mary's and Ling Tom Rivers, con- 
siderable power is obtained. 

The water power on the Upper Columbia is also very important. At the 
Cascades, sixty-five miles from Portland, the river has a fall of forty feet, 
from which power could be supplied to mills for miles on each side of the 
river. A number of tributaries of the Columbia, as the Sandy, Hood, and 
Des Chutes Rivers, and Mill Creek, also furnish power. In Southern and 
Southeastern Oregon, power is obtained at Ashland, and on Link River, con- 
necting the Upper Klamath with Lower Klamath Lake. The power on the 
latter is supposed to be equal to that at Oregon City. 

At several points some of the smaller mountain streams have falls of 
from 100 to 500 feet, which could easily be utilized. In fact, there is hardly 
a corner of the State in which this cheapest of all power does not exist in 
almost unlimited amounts. In fact, it may be said that all the resources for 
a ireneral manufacturing industry are found in abundance. The climate 
permits all kinds of labor, indoor and outdoor, at all times of the year. 
There is iron, wood and coal in abundance. Water power near the general 
market at Portland, and elsewhere convenient to various lines of transpor- 
tation, is abundant, and it never freezes or fails. All the raw materials are 
found, and all the superficial conditions are favorable. And, besides, OregOD 
manufactures have the practical protection of the long haul from the east. 
These conditions, with a population (in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) 
above half a million, and now increasing at a rate of upwards of 100,000 per 
year, must soon cause the upbuilding of a general manufacturing industry. 
Every practical manufacturer who visits the country, (and there have been 
many such visitors Bince the completion of the Eastern Railroads,) se< 

thousand opportunities which old residents, in their experience, have over 
looked. And there are assurances that this new field will not long remain 
neglected. 

Next to the Lumbering industry, already described, probably the mi 

important is the manufacture of woolen goods, which has attained a high 
perfection. There are at present half a do/en wool mills in opera 
tion in different parts of the State. The most important are located at Salem, 
OregOD City, and at Brownsville, southeast of Albany. The C&ssimeres, 
flannels, and blankets manufactured in these establishments are of a very 
superior quality, and find a ready market both at home and abroad; especially is 

this the case with the blankets manufactured at Oregon City, which are sent 
to New York, where they command the highest prices. The wool industry 



OREGON. 49 

of the State consumes about 3,000,000 pounds of raw material, and the 
manufactured goods represent a value of about $2,000,000 annually. 

There are numerous first-class flouring mills, worked mainly by water- 
power, in the State. The total number is estimated at 150, and their product 
reaches up in the millions of dollars annually, and finds ready sale at home, 
and at such distant markets as England, China, Japan, and the Sandwich 
Islands, being preferred to California's best. The largest of these mills are 
located at Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany, Eugene City, Pendleton, 
and Minerville. 

Ship-building has been followed for some time with great success, at 
different points on the Oregon Coast, and a number of fine vessels built 
there are now afloat. The Oregon iron works, at Albina, near Portland, 
have built a steam revenue cutter for the United States Government, which 
is said to be the finest vessel in the revenue service. 

Not far from the iron mine, near Oswego, already described under the 
head of "Useful Minerals," a furnace and a foundry on a large scale 
(erected at a cost of $200,000), have been in operation for years. The pig 
iron turned out by the furnace is of superior quality, and is sold in the home 
market, as well as at San Francisco, where it is deemed equal to Scotch 
iron. Some very fine castings have been made at these works. Charcoal, 
made from the timber in the immediate vicinity of the works, is delivered 
at six to eight cents per bushel, but it is believed can be made still cheaper. 
Several other foundries, as well as machine shops, are running at other 
points. 

Xear Oregon City is a paper mill, producing thousands of pounds of straw 
and other paper daily. An oil mill at Salem produces about 200,000 gallons of 
linseed oil annually. Flax mills have been erected at Salem and Albany, 
with a view to the eventual manufacture of linen. 

There are also some establishments for the manufacture of wooden ware. 

Hemlock and Oak bark being obtainable in inexhaustible quantities, a 
number of tanneries are in operation, but the}' do not as yet supply the 
domestic demand. A good deal of leather is still imported, and at the same 
time large quantities of raw hides are exported. 

Several establishments for the production of various agricultural imple- 
ments are in existence, but they also are insufficient to supply the home 
demand. Most of the machines and implements in use are imported at 
great cost. 

Furniture of all sorts is being manufactured from native woods to the 
amount of $1,000,000 annually. 

Although these manufacturing industries are scattered all over the State, 
Portland being the general center of trade and of transportation, and the 
chief seat of population, is the manufacturing center of the country. Already 
the bulk of the small manufactures of the country is there. It is easiest and 
cheapest to mass materials at that point, while all about on every side, and 
in the vicinity of the city, there are sites affording every advantage. For 
factories requiring water power, there are many favorable situations near at 
hand. In 1887, Portland employed 2,379 men, and turned out products of 
the value of $7,804,000. Among these industries, Portland employs 600 men 



50 OREGON. 

in foundries, realizing products valued at $1,176,000; in the manufacture of 
furniture, 300 hands, and realizing $750,000; in woolen mills, 335 hands, 
selling goods worth $750,000. Its brick works, bakeries, cracker factories, 
rope works, soap works, candy, fruit and confectioneries, employ 595 hands 
yielding products valued at $880,000. Saw mills employ 500 men, and turn 
out $1,600,C00 worth of lumber annually. One notable feature is printing and 
publishing, employing 375 hands, and turning out work to the value of 
$810,000. The miscellaneous industries, blacksmithing, book-binding, brass 
foundries, box making, coffee works, cooperage, dyeing and cleaning works, 
artificial ice works, jewelry, plumbing and gas fitting, saddlery and harness 
making, and stoves, employ together 500 hands, and turn out products of the 
value of $1,750,000. 

During 1887, Portland factories worked up over $4,000,000 worth of raw 
material, and paid out $1,500,000 in wages. 

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. 

The value of a State as an immigration field does not altogether consist in 
the material wealth exhibited; nor does it consist of fertile fields and mar- 
velous harvests, or in manufactured articles, but in these and in the 
institutions which she founds and fosters for the moral and intellectual 
training of her children. There is no subject connected with Oregon's 
progress and prosperity in which the people have taken a deeper interest 
than that of education. And they are manifestly and justly proud of their 
educational institutions. No State in the Union makes a more generous 
provision for its public schools, or has a more complete or effective system. 
The educational system embraces the three departments — the common 
schools, the normal schools and the State University. The Willamette 
University is located at Salem, the capital of the State, andisina flourishing 
condition, with a full corps of professors and teachers. The Pacific Uni- 
versity is located at Forest Green, and is supported by endowments. 
McMmnville College is at McMinnville and Collegiate Institute, at Albany. 
The state University is located a1 Eugene City, and the Corvallis College at 
Corvallis, to which is attached the State Agricultural College. The State 
Normal Schools are supported by appropriations from a general fund, and are 
free to all who desire to become teachers in the public schools of the 
State. 

The higher education in the Willamette Valley is sought by a large nuin 
ber of the youth of both sexes, and several very excellent academies, colleges 
and universities have open doors to the seeker of knowledge. Lack of 
space alone forbids reference in detail to the work done atthese institutions. 
Suffice it to say that the State University, at Eugene, has in regular attend- 
ance about 200 pupils; the Willamette University at Salem, 400; the Forest 
Grove University, 150; the Normal School at Monmouth, in Polk County, 
250; the State Agricultural College, at Corvallis, 125. All these colleges 



OREGON. 51 

have a full staff of teachers; the system of life of all is the same — none are 
colleges in the sense of common collegiate residence and board. All are 
purely teaching institutions, the pupils being lodged and boarded in the 
several towns, and meeting at the college or university buildings for teach- 
ing and recitations. It is at once the glory and the hardship of all that 
pupils of all ages and attainments there meet on even ground — the glory 
because of the equality and comradeship of the classes and the cheapness of 
the college course; the hardship, in that the very variety of the previous 
education and modes of life, and the greater range in age, makes it not only 
difficult for teachers to grade and classify the pupils; for the older, but less 
well taught ones to catch up and keep up with those who have had better 
early training. 

The cost of the teaching at these higher schools in Western Oregon varies 
from $5 to $12 per term. The cost of board and lodging of a pupil may 
average, and should not exceed, $5 per week. It is a common thing for the 
young aspirant to slave from June to October on the farm, saving every cent 
of his hard earnings, and then to economize and watch over the outgoing of 
every dollar for the necessaries of life from October to June, while studying 
twelve or fourteen hours a day in and for the college classes. To such an 
one is the proverb true — " Receive instructions, and not silver, and knowl- 
edge rather than choice gold." 

The especial pride of the people is the public school system. The most 
remote and thinly populated districts have all the advantage of the public 
school system. Under this management, the progress of these schools has 
been rapid, steady and wholly gratifying. New districts are formed each 
year, and nothing is left to hap-hazard, or incomplete management. The 
head of a family w T ho takes his children and goes to Oregon to cast his lot 
need have no fears of failing in his duty to them in respect to education. 
They will find schools, and the best. The school fund in Oregon is in part 
provided for from the proceeds of sales of land which was granted to the 
State by Congress for educational purposes; but the larger part of the 
income is derived from a direct tax of three to four mills, which is imposed 
by the legislature. As to the schools and educational facilities in Portland, 
they are among the finest. 

Much attention is given to the management of the State charitable and 
reformatory institutions, which are among the very best in the country. 

The church interest is a dominant one in Oregon, and without marshaling 
any statistical figures, or making comparisons, a fair account will be honor- 
able to our people. Like all States on the west side of the Rockies, Oregon 
has attached to herself a diversified population, whose characteristics, in 
respect to social, moral, or religious usages, are as various as the lands and 
States of their birth. Oregon, in a religious sense, ranks well with many of 
the older States. There is scarcely a community or locality, no matter how 



52 OREGON. 

isolated, but has its house of worship and a large and growing membership. 
In the cities and towns of the State the church edifices are commodious and 
handsome structures, and the pulpits are occupied by some of the most able 
ministers of the country. 



RAILWAYS AND STEAMSHIP LINES. 



The Union Pacific Railway Company affords the one great transportation 
system of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. It is, in fact, to Oregon what 
the great Pennsylvania system is to the Keystone State. By virtue of its 
1 ease and operation of all the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company's vast 
interests, the Union Pacific's Oregon system, water and rail, encloses within 
its far-reaching arms that imperial domain, stretching from San Francisco to 
the British line, and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Its 
numerous railroad lines tap the finest wheat, lumber, wool and cattle dis- 
tricts and best cities, and its score of modern water crafts are at home in 
every harbor and in every navigable stream. As has been shown in preced- 
ing pages, the great Territory tapped and drained by the Union Pacific 
Railway Company's net-work of lines is a region of almost limitless possi- 
bilities in all the important elements of agricultural and mineral wealth. 
As a vast granary — as a cereal producing region — it cannot be surpassed in 
the world; while wool, lumber, and gold and silver bearing ores will always 
be very important articles of export. 

( ommencing with the main line, which enters the State from the East at 
Huntington, the Union Pacific Railway's lines, here referred to, aggregate 
758.2 miles, as follows: 



Huntington to Portland. 404 miles 

Umatilla toPomeroy .....-_.. 186 

Starluck to Rlparla 8.3 

Hollas Junction to Dayton. 13 

Walla Walla to Pendleton 47.1 " 

fa louse Junction to Moscow ._ .116.6 

Colfax to Farmlngton 27.2 

ties Railroad . 6. 

Total. . ...758.2 M 



The above constitute a sort of railway web-work, penetrating to the heart 
of one of the most tortile and productive regions to be found in the great 
Columbia River Basin, and affording the rapid means of transportation of 
freight and passengers. Every mile of the road has boon built in a substan- 
tia] manner, and is maintained in excellent condition. Permanence has been 
a very important consideration in all improvements. As indicating the varied 
resources and traffic of the region penetrated and drained by these lines, 
we present the following statement of business for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1887: 



OREGON. 53 

Tons. 

Merchandise.-.. 119.120 

Lumber 76.508 

Agricultural implements 7,459 

Wheat 201,066 

Flour and feed.... 46,787 

Flax Seed 6,214 

Other grains 14,196 

Hops 3,544 

Wool.... .... 10,901 

Fruit...- _. .... . . 8,804 

Potatoes..-. . _. • 5,284 

Cattle 14,907 

Hogsandsheep . .. 8,193 

Hides . 2,359 

Fish 19,536 

Household goods . _ _ .. _ 3,259 

Coal... .. . .... .... ..... 4.200 

Wood .... .... ....14,460 

Miscellaneous 207,908 

Total number of tons carried . 884,117 

Total number of passengers carried _" 334,978 

On these figures a large increase may be safely calculated during the 
present fiscal year, on the basis of a steady development of the country. As 
will be seen by consulting the above table, the principal article of export is 
wheat. Grain is destined to be one of the great sources of freight revenue 
to the Company. The whole Columbia River basin has not been inappro- 
priately designated as "one great wheat field"; and yet only a very small 
proportion of the acreage has been brought under the subjection of the plow. 
Lumber, flour and feed, live stock, fish, wool and general merchandise may 
be classed among the staple articles of export, which must ever increase with 
the growth of the country. By the navigation system along the Snake, 
Willamette and Columbia rivers, and on the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound, 
the solution of the long-discussed and much-vexed problem of safe, certain 
and swift transportation of the surplus product to a profitable market, is 
satisfactorily solved. 

In connection with the railway system the Company operates the Upper 
Columbia, Snake, Middle and Lower Columbia, and Upper Willamette 
Rivers, also Puget Sound, having routes between Tacoma and Victoria, Seat- 
tle and Olympia and the Pacific Ocean between Portland and San Francisco. 
The boats used over these several lines are large, swift and commodious. 
They are under the command of courteous and experienced officers, and the 
comfort of passengers is carefully provided for. Lewiston is the head of 
navigation east of the mountains, and Corvallis on the Upper Willamette in 
Western Oregon. These river fleets are operated to the best possible advan- 
tage with the railroad lines, and the two constitute a perfect and admirable 
*}>tem of transportation. 

The following boats comprise the River Division: Olympian, Wide West, 
R. R. Thompson, S. G. Read, Mountain Queen, Harvest Queen, John Gates, 

D. S. Baker, Spokane, Hassalo, Almota, Dixie Thompson, Bonanza, S. T. 
Church, Orient, Occident, Champion, Ocklahama, Willamette Chief, Alice, 

E. N. Cooke, Annie Faxon, and North-West. 

The Puget Sound Division is composed of the following steamers: 
Alaskan, North Pacific, Geo. E. Starr, Idaho, and Emma Hayward. 

The Ocean Line, between Portland and San Francisco, has in use four 



54 OREGON. 

large iron steamers — the Columbia, Geo. W. Elder, City of Chester and 
Oregon. This route is operated in connection with the Pacific Steamship 
Company. The latter Company is running its steamship, State of California r 
on the same route. Regular trips are made every few days between Port- 
land and the Golden Gate. These four steamers are models of safety,, 
swiftness and comfort, and have large freight capacities. Their cost was in 
the vicinity of $500,000 each, and no finer or safer craft sails any sea. They 
are efficiently officered; the several companies have had years of experience 
with all coast line peculiarities, and are deservedly popular with the public. 
No accidents involving the loss of human life, or the destruction of vessels, 
have occurred during the long time the steamers have been running on the 
line. 

The powerful side-wheel steamers Alaskan and Olympian are the finest 
vessels of that class on the Pacific Coast for speed, elegance of appointments 
and completeness in every requisite of safety and convenience. The cost 
of each was about $400,000. Both were built in 1883. The Olympian last 
season was chartered and run for several months on the route between 
Tacoma and Sitka as an excursion vessel. For several months past the 
Olympian has been running on Puget Sound. The Alaskan last summer 
ran on the seaside route, carrying to and fro between Portland and Ilwaco 
many thousands of excursionists. This elegant steamer was a great public 
favorite. 

Without exaggeration, it may be stated that nowhere on the American 
continent are there such ample and varied opportunities for tourists and 
pleasure seekers as are to be found in the section of the Pacific northwest 
teached and traversed by the Union Pacific lines. The ocean routes are 
traversed by fine steamships; its splendid river steamers ply the waters of 
the Columbia, "The Hudson of the Pacific," which from its salmon fisheries 
to the eastern slope of the Cascades, and for 100 miles up its principal 
tributary, the Willamette, passes through a section of country unrivaled 
in beauty, fertility and pieturesqueness. 

In addition to the Union Pacific lines is the Northern Pacific, which con- 
nects Portland with the cities oi' the Puget Sound on the north, and also has 
a through route to the east: the Southern Pacific, which, by virtue of its 
. of the old Oregon & California Railway, traverses almost the entire 
width of Western Oregon, north and south, and connects Portland with San 
Francisco: the Oregon Pacific, which, commencing at Yakina Bay, runs- 
inland 100 miles, and is destined to cross the State, east and west, on about 
the latitude it has started; and tin 4 Narrow Guage system of the Willamette 

Valley, having a total mileage of about 200 miles. 

All these various rail and water lines afford the State an admirable sys- 
tem of transportation and development, and insure tor its citizens and their 
industries such facilities as no other State west of the Rocky Mountains can 
boast. To impress the reader with the importance of the 1 water lines, it may 
be added that upwards of seventy-live steamboats leave their docks in Port- 
land every day to ply the waters of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers,. 
and the tributaries of the latter. They go laden with merchandise and re- 



OREGON. 55 

turn with produce. It is estimated that the steamboat tonnage (independent 
of ocean craft), which daily passes any given point below and near Portland 
is in the neighborhood of 700,000 tons. Of course the quantity of freight 
carried is very much less, but it is large enough to make an important share 
in the business of Portland. At Portland the grain product of the country 
is loaded into ships. The coast traffic with California on the south, Alaska 
on the north, and the various ports of Oregon and Washington, is very large, 
aggregating many hundreds of thousands of tons, and valued at many 
millions of dollars. 



HUNTING AND FISHING. 

There are many wild animals common to Oregon, and opportunities for 
hunting and shooting cannot be surpassed. Black bears are numerous, and 
in the more remote districts east of the Cascade Mountains the grizzly bear 
is captured. Of the deer family, elk of large size are in great abundance, 
as well as the black-tail, the Virginia and the mule deer. The cougar or 
panther, and many of the smaller felidse are to be found. There are several 
varieties of foxes and wolves. The beaver, the badger, seals, both hair and 
fur, the raccocn, the marten, the mink, the fish and land otter, the musk-rat, 
the weasel, the skunk and several kinds of rabbits and squirrels are plenti- 
ful. 

It is probably of importance to the numerous classes who do not care to 
go from the immediate vicinity of the settlements for a hunt that in all the 
valleys of the State, deer, pheasants, grouse, quail, snipe — the last four of 
unusual size — abound. In the fall wild geese and ducks swarm along the 
many lakes and watercourses. Wild swan are very numerous on the 
lakes and rivers of Southeastern Oregon. In the sage districts of 
Eastern Oregon, the sage hen makes its home, and the jack rabbits are so 
numerous as to often become a pest to the farming population. Various 
kinds of game are killed by wagon loads for market. 

Thus the strong point about Oregon as a field for the huntsman is that it 
is not necessary to make long and wearisome journeys away from rail and 
water lines to find enough game to insure right royal sport. Baker City, 
The Dalles and numerous other towns on the Union Pacific's Oregon lines 
are desirable points of rendezvous, near good game fields and possessing 
good hotel and outfitting accommodations. 

In its food fishes, this region has a mine of wealth better than its best vein 
of gold or silver. Its innumerable rivers, creeks and rivulets, snow-fed and 
mountain-born, clear almost as the azure above, are inhabited by myriads of 
salmon, trout, grayling and other fish, gamy and eager enough for the bait, 
to make the real disciple of Isaak Walton question whether he ever fished 
before. But its great rivers, lays and sounds are so alive with the fish of 
commerce that they have a more important interest to the thoughtful econo- 
mist. Salmon of many varieties abound in millions, and are taken and 
canned by the thousands daily, nearly 500,000 cases, 24,000,000 cans, or 



56 OREGON. 

36,000,000 pounds, having been exported last year. Of the tons upon tons 
of this delicious fish shipped whole in refrigerator cars of the Union 
Pacific, we have no record at hand. 

Then there is another fish so superior to the salmon, that, according to a 
connoiseur, the latter "is not worthy of lying in the same basket with it, 
and the speckled trout only as a gracious favor should be permitted to get 
into the frying-pan in which it has been cooked." This is the cod, the true 
gadus, having the flavor of the Block Island cod, and of food for men or gods. 
Nothing more can be said than that. There seems to be enough of these 
along the North Pacific Coast to supply the fishmongers of all nations. 
Sturgeon are of immense size, weighing up to 1,000 pounds each, and so 
abundant that isinglass made from them has long been an article of export. 
Herrings are in countless numbers. Smelts— precisely the delicate fish of 
New York Bay — are taken by tons. Dog-fish in incredible quantities are 
manufactured into oil for export to distant parts of the world. Rock-fish, 
deep sea perch and other valuable varieties are as abundant as the above 
named, as well as crabs, shrimps, oysters, clams, etc. 

According to the latest census, there are no less than 16,746 persons 
engaged in the fishing business on the Pacific Coast, not less than half of 
them along Oregon waters. Of the total, 11,555 are fishermen and 5,191 are 
shore or factory hands. There are engaged in the business 5,547 boats and 
fifty-three vessels. The total value of the industry consisting of boats, ves- 
sels, apparatus, outfits and buildings is given at $2,748,383. The total annual 
product amounts in value to about $10,000,000. On the Columbia River the 
salmon fishing and canning business has the best development. Nearly 
7,000 fishermen and factory hands, and a capital of $2,500,000, are employed, 
and the value of the product last year was nearly $3,000,000. 

Beside the salmon fisheries on the Columbia River, similar establishments, 
many of them of great importance, exist on the Willamette, the Umpqua and 
Rogue rivers. 

A grand stimulus has been given this industry by the competition of the 
Union Pacific's Oregon lines and the Northern Pacific, and vast shipments 
of this delicious and healthy food now find their way into every city or 
county of note in the interior of our own country constituting a luxury 
within the reach of all instead of being so largely taken as formerly, 10,000 
miles by ocean to foreign lands. 

Salmon are taken with gill nets, seines and traps. The number of boats 
employed is about 1,500, including ten steam tenders. The cost of a boat fully 
equipped with net Is about $600. The gill nets used are from 350to 800 fathoms 
long and twenty feet deep. The seines are from 100 to '300 yards long. The boats 
and nets are generally owned by the proprietors of the canneries, who lease 
them with the necessary implements and supplies to the fishermen on the 
condition that one third of the catch is to he paid for rent and the remain- 
ing two-thirds must be sold to the owner at a stipulated price. Each boat 
will catch on an average 2,000 fish during the season. With the exception 
of a few Indians, the fishermen are white men, chiefly Scandinavans and 
and Italians. Three average salmon will fill four dozen one-pound cans.. 



OREGON. 57 

The fishing is at its height for three months, from May to July, but the most 
abundant run in later years has been towards the last weeks of the 
season. Artificial hatching has been resorted to in order to maintain the 
supply. 

The sportsman will be more interested in knowing that many other 
varieties of fish, differing much in qualhty and value, are very plenty. They 
crowd the seas, bays, estuaries and smaller rivers and creeks, which flow 
into the ocean, at certain seasons of the year, and may be easily caught with 
fly and bait. Almost innumerable mountain streams and lakes, in sight or 
within easy reach of the Union Pacific lines in Oregon, are fairly alive with 
the gamey mountain trout, lake trout, perch or pike. 

SCENERY, PLEASURE AND HEALTH RESORTS. 

Oregon is fast gaining fame in all lands for the variety, beauty and sub- 
limity of its scenic attractions. Its peerless rivers and marine views are to a 
large extent to be credited with this. The Columbia itself has no rival, for in 
some respects it is the grandest river in the world. It drains 400,000 miles, a 
region so vast in extent and rich in resources that we will hardly, in this 
age, begin to comprehend, let alone appreciate it. It is three times as long 
as the Rhine, more than six times as long as the Hudson, and, in scenic 
attractions, is far ahead of either. Eight miles wide at its majestic mingling 
with the sea, two miles wide, and of sufficient depth to float the largest of 
our ocean ships one hundred miles inland. It also maintains such mighty 
volume as to be navigable for 1,000 miles along the greatest mountains of 
our west coast. Indeed, it alone of all the rivers of the west has broken 
these stern barriers. Through the fierce struggle which thus resulted, have 
we a glorious legacy in the way of the grandest river scenery in the world. 
The Palisades of the Hudson, the overhanging cliffs of the Upper Missis- 
sippi, and the embattled precipitous environments of the Rhine, are here. 
There are also elements of grandeur in views of snow-clad peaks, of en- 
trancing beauty in peaceful passages o f the great river through miles upon 
miles of mountain-locked lakes, and of the phenomenal and marvelous in 
other ways not possessed by any of the world's more noted rivers. The Lewis 
fork, or Snake, in Shoshone Falls— boasts a cataract much higher, and by many 
visitors pronounced more beautiful and interesting than Niagara. While 
such grand scenes line the Snake Fork, far to the northward, along Clark's 
Fork, is an equal accumulation of splendors of the physical world. Lake 
Pend d'Oreille, through whose entire length of 100 miles Clark's Fork plows 
its way, and, although 500 miles from the ocean, could float the navies of the 
world: Lake Coeur d'Alene, nearly forty miles long, and scarce rivaled 
anywhere for magnificence of Alpine setting or beauty of pine clothed islets; 
Spokane Falls, a cataract of wondrous power and beauty, and some of the 
most sublime vistas of canon scenery mind can conceive, are undying feasts 
for the tourist's eye. 

Down the Columbia, from the junction of Clark's Fork with the Snake, is 
200 miles of river scenerj T unequaled in the world. To the south, in the 



58 OREGON. 

vast seclusion of Eastern Oregon, is the mountain range, which, of alT 
others, the aesthetic Oregonian loves. Lower than the Sierras or the- 
Rockies, it has a grace of outline and a lustre of foliage unknown to either.. 
We refer to the Blue Mountains, the fairest August garden on earth. Cape 
Horn, 700, and Castle Rock, 1,500 feet high, are distinguished landmarks 
which rise precipitous from the Columbia's edge. The Cascade Range 
shoots up from 1,000 to 3,000 feet along the passage of the mighty river 
through it, and from its battlements are such garnishings of a wondrous- 
picture as Multnomah Falls, 850 feet high, La Tourelle Falls, 400 feet, and 
a half a dozen others, beside which Minnehaha, or Montmorency, would be 
counted very modest creations. Through frequent openings in gorges, or at 
the verge of a beautiful stretch of plain, can be seen towering above all other 
objects, Mount Hood, snow-capped from base to summit, and as, an enthu- 
siastic admirer has written: "Oppressive in its majesty, beautiful in form, 
angelic in its whiteness — the union of all that is great and pure and im- 
pressive." 

Referring to the attractions of the Union Pacific route, down the Columbia,, 
a prominent writer says: "Few regions present greater attractions to tour- 
ists, pleasure-seekers and lovers of the picturesque and sublime in nature- 
All along the line there is a succession of pleasant surprises, something ever 
to attract the interest and challenge the admiration of the traveler. By boat 
magnificent views can be obtained along the Upper Columbia and Snake, while 
the grandeur and beauty of the scenery of the middle and first part of the 
lower river, where the noble stream has cleft its mighty and resistless path- 
way seaward through the heart of the Cascade Range, stands unsurpassed 
on the American continent, if not in the whole world. Nothing in the Alps,, 
the Pyrenees, or along the picturesque banks of the Rhine or 'Arrowy 
Rhone' overshadows the weirdness of the elements of sublimity of this 
home scenery. A river ride in the elegant Union Pacific boats from Port- 
land to The Dalles is a revelation of wonder and beauty. One of the most 
engaging features of the trip is the tracing of the company's railway track 
on the south bank of the lordly Columbia, which, winding in, through and 
around the immense boulders, under towering bluffs, creeping fearlessly 
past stupenduous heights, rattling over miles of lofty trestles and bridges, 
and anon lost to view behind a clump of green trees, has been rightly 
pronounced the most marvelous piece of railroad engineering iu the world." 

A trip up the beautiful, winding Willamette during the favorable season 
is ;i delightful one. The ripening wheat fields, the sunny farms, creeping 
down almost to the water's edge, with back ground of thrifty orchards and 
verdant woodlands, and, withal, the peaceful thrift and rural repose of the 
6cene form a happy contrast with the bold, imposing features of the Columbia 
and Snake Rivers. 

New and striking features of beauty views of distant mountains, snow- 
clad peaks, glimpses of forests, valleys, hills and river and ocean stretches — 
can be constantly caught while making a trip down the Columbiaor Astoria,, 
or in threading the watery labyrinths of Puget Sound, the "Mediteranean of 
America. " 

There are numerous beautiful and interesting lakes in Southern Oregon,, 






OREGON. 59 

the principal of which are Malheur, Klamath, Goose, Warner's Lakes and 
Lake Harney. High among the mountain ranges in various parts of the 
State are scores of other lakes unnamed, but deserving the homage of the 
of the appreciative tourist who is willing to "rough it" somewhat to enjoy 
nature in her lovliest moods. Here the angler reaps his harvest, while in 
the sylvan forests surrounding, the huntsman can always count on rich 
returns of noble game. 

Crater Lake, which with ample surroundings, has recently, by act of Con- 
gress, been set apart as a National Park, will undoubtedly soon become one 
of the great resorts of the west. It is situated in the northwestern portion of 
Klamath County, twenty-two miles w T est of north of Fort Klamath, and about 
ninety miles east of Medford, Jackson County, and 328 miles south of Port- 
land, which is the best point to leave the Oregon & Calif ornia Railroad. The 
Jacksonville and Fort Klamath military road passes within three miles of 
the lake, and the road to the very walls of it is an exceptionally good one for 
a mountainous country, while in near proximity may be found remarkably 
fine camping grounds. The lake itself is almost egg shaped, and is about 
six miles wide by eight long. The water's surface is 6,300 feet above sea 
level, and is completely surrounded with cliffs or walls, from 1,000 to over 
2,000 feet high, which are scantily covered with fir. To the southwest is 
"Wizard Island, 600 feet high, circular in shape, and slightly covered with 
timber. In the top of this is a depression, or crater — the Witches Cauldron — 
ninety feet deep and 475 feet in diameter. This is evidently the last smok- 
ing chimney of a once mighty volcano. The base of the island is covered 
with very heavy and hard rocks, with sharp and unworn edges, over which 
scarcely a score of human feet have ever trod. Farther up are deep beds of 
ashes, and light spongy rocks and cinders, giving evidence of intense heat. 
Within the crater, as without, the surface is entirely covered with volcanic 
rocks, but here it forms one of the hottest places on a clear day in August it 
has ever been our lot to witness. Not a breath of air seems to enter, and the 
hot sun pours down upon the thousands of rocks and stones that reflect its 
rays with an intensity that seems to multiply beyond conception. 

There is probably no point of interest in America that so completely over- 
comes ordinary Indians with fear as Crater Lake. From time immemorial 
no power has been strong enough to induce them to approach within sight 
of it. For a paltry sum they will engage to guide you thither, but before 
reaching the mountain top they will leave you to proceed alone. Crater 
Lake is but a striking memento of a dead past. Imagine a vast mountain, 
six by eight miles through, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, with the top 
removed and the inside hollowed out, then filled with the purest water in 
the world to within 2,000 feet of the top; then place a round island in one 
end 600 feet high; then dig a circular hole tapering to the center like a 
funnel, ninety feet deep and 475 feet in diameter, and you have a perfect 
representation of Crater Lake. 

There are many hot springs of well-tried mineral waters in Oregon. 
Among those particularly efficacious in the cure of rheumatism and kindred 
disorders, the large group which forms what is known as the " Hot Lake " 



f>0 OREGON. 

along the Union Pacific Railway near La Grande, Eastern Oregon, is^ 
probably the most notable. They have benefited thousands, and cured 
many. In Lake County, Southern Oregon, are several noted hot springs,, 
and these offerings of nature's laboratory are numerous in other localities^ 

As for seaside resorts, no region is more prolific than the 300-mile coast 
line of Oregon. Prominent among these is Ilwaco, reached by the Union 
Pacific's magnificent " Floating Palaces " in a most enjoyable Columbia River 
ride 100 miles from Portland. Here are good hotel accommodations, a 
splendid surf, with all necessary bathing facilities and the other usual 
attractions of a modern seaside resort. Only ten miles further is Clatsop 
Beach, possessing like charms. At the latter is the Seaside House, having 
sufficient accommodations for 200 guests. The woodlands adjacent abound 
with elks, bears and deer. When we have had our fill of salt water, we can 
here don our shooting jackets and spend many a delightful hour in the re- 
cesses of the forest, where we may hope to participate in an encounter with 
an affectionate cub or an affrighted hare; or, pushing further inland, to any 
of the numerous creeks within a radius of a mile or so, there is an abun- 
dance of fine trout, hungry and foolish. If the catch is not quite satisfac- 
tory, the farmer boys in the cottages hard by, always have a good looking* 
string of fish for sale at a reasonable figure. 

At Tillamook, ISTestucca, Coos Bay and Alsea are other ocean resorts of 
more or less merit. It is becoming the popular thing for thousands of 
Oregonians to regularly go to the seaside in summer, and Eastern visitors 
readily catch the infection. 

With the completion of the Union Pacific Railway's connection with this 
domain, and the operation of its branch lines, including the steamers on the 
interior rivers, and the erection of good hotels at the chief points of interest,, 
the difficulties of traveling have been minimumized, and those who are 
anxious to visit this region and are only held back by the fear that the ordi- 
nary conveniences are not yet provided, need have no hesitancy on this score. 
Relatively speaking, a journey through the Pacific Northwest, a trip that is 
to include the glorious passage of the Columbia through the Cascades, a 
visit to Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier, Crater Lake, in Southeastern Oregon, sea 
bathing at Astoria and vicinity, a thirty day's stay in Alaska and a couple of 
weeks' trout fishing at Coeiir d'Alene, in the Pend d'Oreille Lake country, or 
Joco River, will be somewhat expensive, perhaps, but the benefit derived 
and tin- pleasure enjoyed therefrom will repay the outlay of money. 

To those who have been accustomed to annually going to Europe as a 
panacea for their ailments, allow us to suggest that over on this side of the 
Ilocky Mountains, and in this corner of our common country, they will find 
a climate as healing as any on other continents or fabled isles. No sane 
man talks about perfection in a world of imperfection; yet in this vast 
domain in the Pacific Northwest, one can find, and with little trouble or 
discomfort and expense, comparing it with the cost of a European trip, innu- 
erable charming resorts in which to pass the summer. As a local authority puts 
it: "The invalid may choose his own altitude, and so arrange it that he shall 
sleepundera winter supply of bed clothing in a breezy tent, or under a lighter 



OREGON. 01 

supply of covering (though always under considerable clothing) in 
a comfortable house. There is such a thing, for an invalid, as having too 
much climate, but here he can choose his climatic environments as he can 
select his physician or his society in New York. But whatever may be hie 
selections here, he escapes the bulk of climatic defects, and does not in any 
event, suffer alternate boilings and freezings. He escapes enervating heat 
and severe cold, with no raw winds or cyclones. Free from malaria, with 
an elastic, bouyant atmosphere, where a man does not waste, but renews his 
vital forces, it is certainly the natural resort of the invalid. It is nature's 
sanitarium for the man suffering from nervous prostration, with the long 
train of tormenting ills; for the over-worked man; for those who are de- 
pressed by the dregs of malarial fever; for all those who suffer from the 
sudden and extreme atmospheric changes. And this equality of temperature 
is a wonderful relief to those suffering from lung diseases of any kind. 
Catarrh, asthma, and all the various bronchial affections are greatly bene- 
fited by even a short residence in this region. As we have said, there is a 
strange mingling of mountain and plain, hill and valley, and all the unusual 
and unexpected combinations, and there is furnished whatever variety of 
climate a man may need for his health." 

What is more charming in summer than a climate where the cooling 
breezes from the snow-clad mountains and the frigid waters of the streams, 
that have their birthplace in these high altitudes, makes an atmosphere 
always cool enough in the day time to be thoroughly enjoyable, and at night 
enables one to sleep soundly beneath a goodly quantity of bed covering. 
When you add the sports of rod and gun, the grateful odor of the pine and 
cedar, hemlock and fir, all health-giving in quality, you have something of 
the Northwest. A season here makes the visitor reluctant to change. In 
this superior dry climate, so different from that of the Atlantic Coast — even 
in the mountain region there — an early morning ride is a luxury indeed: a 
bath, alike to body and mind, a stimulant better than the choicest vintage. 

Oregon has more than her share of attractions for the tourist; places 
where the citizen or traveler, in pursuit of health, pleasure and recreation 
will sojourn for the season and part with regretfully. There are a score 
or two of resorts where there is an inspiration in the air, and where com- 
forts and conveniences of all kinds may be found at ordinary prices of 
living. What with variety of pastoral scenery, extent of forests, nobleness 
of rivers, grandeur of snow-shrouded mountain peaks and verdure-clothed 
hills, richness of color, a flora that is rich beyond comparison, a fauna that 
is strange and interesting, a climate which for serenity and evenness has no 
superior anywhere, healing waters of wide celebrity, and all within reach 
of the tourist; there is enough to captivate his fancy and lure the invalid, 
artist or scientist from chamber, studio or laboratory. 

OREGON COUNTIES. 

There are twenty-nine organized Counties in Oregon. Following is a 
brief outline of each — location, physical characteristics, production, etc: 
Baker — Extreme eastern part of State; area, about 6,000,000 acres, mostly 



62 OREGON. 

surveyed; about three-fourths mountainous and timbered; balance agricul- 
tural; elevation 3,000 feet above sea level; soil good; leading products are 
live stock, lumber, gold, silver, grain and fruit; land slopes toward Snake 
River; mineral belt over 100 miles in diameter; Owyhee, Powder, Malheur, 
and Snake Rivers; Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, branch of 
Union Pacific. 

Grant — First west of Baker, and largest in State; 15,000 square miles; 
mainly mountainous, with high valleys; cultivated land, 19,183 acres; lum- 
ber, fir, pine tamarack; milling, mining, stock raising; hardy fruits and 
cereals; Silver, Haney, Malheur and Warner's Lakes; four forks of John 
Day River, and Silver Creek; soil fertile, climate free from any extreme, and 
delightful; Oregon Pacific Railway in course of construction. 

Gilliam — In north-central part of State, on Columbia River; area, 75 by 74 
miles'; rolling uplands, and low, narrow valleys; rich, dry soil, cultivated 
lands, 15,000 acres; good timber; good coking coal, iron and coal oil; pro- 
ductions, cattle, sheep, hay, corn, tobacco, and apples in abundance; in the 
foothills of the Blue Mountains there are countless streams from living 
springs; the large streams are the John Day, Willow and Butte Creeks; 
Oregon Railway & Navigation Company branch of Union Pacific system, 
crosses from west to east. 

Morrow — Is twin to Gilliam, and lies directly east of it, with the Columbia 
River to mark its north line; shape and characteristics almost the counter- 
part of Gilliam; wool is the chief production, but should not be more so 
than all agricultural products; a gently undulating surface southward is 
covered with bunch grass; there are about 14,500 acres of land under culti- 
vation; lumbering is one of the chief industries; Oregon Railway & Navi- 
gation Company branch of the Union Pacific Railway. The County is 
watered by Rhea, Butter, Willow, and Little Butter Creeks, and along their 
banks is a rank growth of balm, birch, willow and hawthorn, but the bulk 
of wood is cut in the dense forests of the Blue Mountains; there is still 
Government and railroad lands of rare quality, to be had at from $1.25 to 
$10 per acre. 

Crook Lies on the eastern slope of the Cascades, a little west of the heart 
of Oregon; its many valleys and rolling hills are covered with rich, wild 
8, thai feeds vast herds of stock; area, 10,000 square miles; 17,000 acres 
cultivated: principal industry, stock raising; those engaged in farming find 
ready market for their produce; Ochow and Crooked Rivers; no railroad 
within L50 miles, but it expects soon to be readied by OregOD Pacific. 

Umatilla Is one of tlm north tier of* Counties, and just east of Wasco; 
1,728,000 acres; contains the most extensive agricultural region of Eastern 
on; a large Indian reservation takes up much of the land, but the 
Government is already taking Bteps to throw it open to settlement; all kinds 
of frail not strictly tropical are raised in abundance; there are 208,317 acres 
under cultivation; has the rolling lands along the Columbia, but stretches up 
high into the rich forests of the Blue Mountains; Columbia and Umatilla 
Rivers; no rain falls during summer months, yel no irrigation is needed, 
because of deep soil with moisture from the mountains; extensive coal 



OREGON. 63 

mines, with endless timber supply and fine demands; the Oregon Railway & 
Navigation Company branch of the Union Pacific traverses the northern 
edge along the river, with a branch extending from Pendleton to Walla 
Walla, in Washington Territory, forty miles through the heart of the agricul- 
tural region. 4 

Union — Next to the northwest corner, mostly high and mountainous, has 
1,958,400 acres, nearly all surveyed, and 93,340 acres cultivated; the soil of 
the valleys is a sandy loam from three to twenty feet deep; Grande Ronde 
Valley contains 300,000 acres of rich, level land; Pine, Eagle, Powder, 
Clover, Starkie, Prairie and Indian Valleys are all in Union County, and 
rich in agriculture; rainfall sufficient to mature crops; Grande Ronde River, 
Powder, Silver Creek and various other streams supply water in great plenty; 
quartz mines of gold, silver, copper and lead are rich and numerous in 
Eastern and Southwestern part of the county; the Oregon Railway & Navi- 
gation branch of the Union Pacific crosses the County, and stage lines with 
mail facilities penetrate the mountains and remotest districts. 

Wallowa — Is the extreme northeast County, a cut off from Union County; 
fine bodies of agricultural lands, but no large tracts; largely mountainous, 
with rich mines of gold and silver, and mountains of granite and marble; 
timber is abundant; produces cattle, «horses, sheep and hogs; the nearest 
railroad facility is the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company branch of 
the Union Pacific. 

Wasco — West of the center of the northern Counties, and bordering its 
north line on the Columbia; area 2,350,000 acres, more than half of which 
are rich in soil that will produce crops without irrigation; the heavy tim- 
bered Cascade Range extends down the west side, while the dense wooded 
border of the Blue Range crosses the southeastern boundary; Des Chutes, 
John Day, and Columbia Rivers; greater portion of the country upland, and 
only late years has the richness of the soil been used for grains, because of 
the large stock interests and natural grazing, so that as yet only about 20,000 
acres are under cultivation; peaches, pears, apples, cherries and all kinds of 
berries mature early, and find a ready market; some of the finest vegetables 
raised in the State were grown on the John Day, without irrigation; Oregon 
Railway & Navigation Company branch of the Union Pacific and navigable 
Columbia. 

Jackson — One of the seven southern or southwestern Counties; has Cali- 
fornia on the south, and is otherwise nearly surrounded by mountains; 
area, 1,658,880 acres; of this amount 280,000 are in cultivation, and could 
easily be enlarged to 500,000; about one-third of the entire acreage is timber 
land, one-third pasture land, and the other third is arable; Rogue River, 
South Fork, Big and Little Butte, Sims, Trail, Bear, Applegate, Button, Elk 
and Stern's Creeks; climate delightful; no extreme weather at any season; 
average rainfall about twenty-five inches; Oregon & California Railroad; 
iron and timber interests alone sufficient to make a wealthy State, if 
properly handled. 

Josephine — In Southern Oregon, and west of Jackson County; and about 
1,800 square miles; has less valley lands than Jackson, but is rich in gold, 



64 OREGON. 

silver, limestone and timber; has about 13,420 acres of cultivated land; soil, 
rich sandy loam; Applegate, Rogue and other rivers; cannot be excelled for 
peaches, apricots and nectarines, plums, grapes, peas and beans of all kinds 
in quality or flavor; has a rare growth of sugar pine trees; good water power; 
Oregon & California Railway. 

Coos — A Coast County, first north of Curry; land mostly mountainous or 
bench land, timbered; some of the creeks and rivers have large bottoms 
which are well cultivated; hundreds of acres of wild fruits and tame fruits 
are of the finest flavor; principal industry is dairying; the lands suitable 
for farming are nearly all taken, but there are still many valuable timber 
claims; nearest railroad 100 miles away, but Pacific Ocean affords outlet. 

Klamath— One of the southern Counties, just east of Jackson; is on the 
Pacific slope, but 150 miles from the ocean; is noted for high mountains, 
beautiful lakes, rivers, and hot and cold springs, timber lands, rich valleys 
and an abundance of fish and game; a notable feature also are the big 
swamps and marshes of some of the low lands; arable land, about 345,000 
acres, 275,000 have already been entered; 511,000 acres of grazing land; 
1,250,000 acres of timber; soil, sandy loam, fertile and easy to work; the first 
plowing will produce superior crops; general elevation of about 2,500 feet; 
Sprague and Klamath Rivers; the n\ost direct route from the east is via the 
Union Pacific Oregon Short Line. 

Lake —The central south county of the State, with no railroad outlet 
nearer than 150 or 200 miles, via Ashland, Linkville, etc.; over 100 miles 
square, and is a country of lakes, as its name implies; its soil is rich and 
loamy; climate mild and pleasant in summer, and the winters are not severe; 
on the margin of the beautiful lakes and along the valleys the table lands 
are beautiful; the timber is pine, mahogany and juniper; principal products, 
cattle, wool, hay and grain; Goose Lake, Sumner, Drews, Warner, and 
many streams form numerous valleys. 

Douglas — The extreme southwest County; area, 8,000,000 acres; has 500,000 
acres of cultivated land; the low hills are covered with oak and madrone, 
with pine and fir further up; snow rarely falls; the rainfall, plentiful, but 
not excessive; the County reaches westward to the Coast, and its seaport is 
out through the Umpqua River; Smith River also navigable for twenty-five 
miles; produces, live stock, wool, grain and lumber,and the hardier fruits all 
do well; Oregon <k California Railroad is an outlet to market as well as to 
the ocean; rich soil, fine climate and great natural resources, with moderate 
price for lands. 

Multnomah. In the northwest part of the State; one of the smallest, but 
richest and most populous in the State; lies both sides of the Willamette 
River; is about fifty by twelve miles in size; the Columbia River forms the 
north boundary line; it consists of rich bottom lands, and well-timbered 
up lands; dairying and market gardening are vocations prosecuted with 
much profit, 10,000 acres being thus utilized; this county contains the city 
of Portland; prunes, cherries, berries and many fruits are successfully 
raised; the Willamette affords excellent water pow r er, and ocean steamers 
land at Portland wharves 150 miles from the Columbia bar; beside ocean 



OREGON. 05 

and river transportation, there is the Oregon Railway & Navigation Com- 
pany branch of the Union Pacific, with Portland as its western terminus, 
the Oregon & California, the Northern Pacific Railway, and two lines of the 
Oregonian Railway. 

Washington — The most northerly and second from the coast; is nearly 
square, and contains about 300,000 acres; climate is same as the Willamette, 
mild and pleasant at all seasons; the soil varies with location, but in general 
is a strong clay sub-soil, covered from three inches to several feet with 
richest loam; about four-fifths level, mostly natural prairie, with some sage 
brush and timber; cannot be excelled in fruit products; the great staple 
product is wheat; prices of land vary from $4 to $60 per acre; Columbia and 
Willamette Rivers. 

Clackamas — In the northerly part, lying along the Willamette; area, 
fully 2,000 square miles; a half million acres are in the hands of settlers; 
excellent market facilities by water, and by Oregon Railway & Navigation 
Company branch of the Union Pacific, also Oregon & California Railway; all 
fruits common to Eastern Oregon raised in abundance; power here, of the 
Willamette, is second to none in the United States; rich iron mines are 
being worked; timber supply practicably inexhaustible; 38,000 acres of 
improved lands. 

Mario?i— In the heart of the Willamette Valle} T , and banner county of the 
State; has about 150,000 acres improved lands; productions, lumber and all 
fruits, grain and vegetables; the Capital of the State is at Salem, in this- 
county; Oregon & California Railway, running north and south, and Oregon 
Pacific across, in prospect, from the coast to a junction with the Union 
Pacific; Willamette River; but little Government land. 

Tomhill — About forty miles south of Portland, and the same distance from 
the ocean; contains about 290,743 acres; 93,000 acres under cultivation; 
diversified by forests of w 7 hite, red and yellow fir, cedar, oak, ash and maple; 
soil is a rich, black loam, from four to fifteen feet deep; it is especially 
adapted to raising plums, prunes, pears, and apples, also berries; rail 
facilities are the Oregon & California and the Oregonian Railways. 

Linn— Fills the space east of the Willamette and west of the Cascades: 
has 135,000 acres of cultivated land; no arable land open for entry, except- 
ing the remote foothills; county about twenty-five miles north and south, 
and seventy-five east and w T est; has three railways, the Oregon & California, 
and the Oregon Pacific Railways, with the narrow guage Oregonian, besides 
river transportation; rich in gold and silver and base metals; eastern part 
of county very high on the slope of the Cascades, the central portion rolling, 
and the west, along the river, all devoted to agriculture; uplands covered 
with dense forests; a half dozen or more creeks cross the county from the 
mountains to the Willamette; soil mostly a black, clayey loam. 

Lane— Reaches from the Pacific Coast to the Cascade Mountains, a dis- 
tance of 120 miles; contains 4,000 square miles; topography is exceedingly 
varied by mountain, valley and forest; 80,000 acres of cultivated land; has 
fine water power; produces lumber, grain, vegetables and fruits; Oregon <te 
California Railway; many mountain creeks and the Sinslow River. 

Benton- Is nearly the center of Western Oregon on the coast, and reach- 



60 OREGON. 

ing inland to the Willamette River; it is divided into an east and west side 
by the Coast Range; covers an area of 1,800 square miles; 41,900 acres have 
been improved; has harbor at Yaquina, where the Oregon Pacitic starts 
across the State; west division of Oregon & California Railway gives direct 
connection with Portland; its products are wheat, oats, wool, tobacco, hay, 
fruits, lumber, and butter and cheese; also salmon and oysters in large 
quantites. 

Polk-— Is the fourth county south of Columbia, and is west of the Willa- 
mette; its area is comparatively small, about 500 or 600 square miles; 
extends from the river to the Coast Range, and is nearly all arable land; has 
90,500 acres under cultivation; the soil of the hills is of a reddish color, but 
excellent wheat land; the prairie soil is a dark, rich loam; hops are an 
important product grown on the bottoms; fruit growing is one of its sources 
of wealth, also gardening of all kinds; watered by Willamette River, and 
many mountain creeks; Oregon & California and Oregonian Railways, and 
the Willamette River. 

Columbia — North and west of Willamette, following the Columbia River 
to the county of the same name; but thinly populated, and scarcely at all 
developed; the land is so broken that extensive farming is not carried on 
although the soil is rich and fertile; very little is free from timber, so that 
logging and stock raising are the principal industries; it has salmon, timber, 
coal and iron in almost inexhaustible supply; steamboats connect all its 
river points with Portland, at low rate of freight, and the Northern Pacific 
aifords transportation to the southern half of the county; the Columbia 
affords a water frontage of sixty miles; then there is the Nehalen, Beaver, 
and Clotskamie Rivers, where valleys are convenient to market; land still 
open to settlement. 

Clatsop — The extreme southwest county; is twenty miles wide by about 
thirty miles long; its soil is a. light loam, sandy, and highly productive; 
timber abundant: chief industry is dairying; oats and barley are the prin- 
cipal cereals; about 22,000,000 feet of lumber are cut annually; a. great source 
of wealth is salmon packing; only transportation is by water, but all ocean 
Bteamers, as well as the inland boats, step at Astoria for business; settle- 
ments are found everywhere given up to some special occupation, such as 
salmon packing, logging, milling or dairyir 

Tillamook Lies directly south (4 Clatsop, on the coast, and separated from 
the Willamette Valley by a high range of mountains; a fairly good road 
over the range is used in the summer, but in winter it is inr , and 

transportation is in boats and Bchooners, via Tillamook Bay, the ocean and 
Columbia River; said by some visitors to be a verdant paradise; prosperity 
retarded by its isolatiu It* red by high mountains on the north, east 

and south, and a high range of hills protect it from the cold winds of the 



OREGON. 67 

ocean; its soil is rich, and four rivers come down the mountains through 
narrow gateways, and gather hundreds of mountain rivulets and brooks in 
their winding course to the sea: principal industries, lumbering, fishing and 
agriculture. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Living expenses in the cities and towns of Oregon, including servant hire, 
are about 10 per cent, higher than in the East. Of course, the productions 
of Oregon, which are consumed at home, are as cheap as elsewhere. Hotel 
rates in the towns of the interior average $1 per clay for transient customers: 
in the cities, board and lodging by the week, about $5 at the hotels, about 
$4 at private houses. House rents in the small towns are quite low. Good 
rive room houses, with spme yard attached, can be had for from $5 to §10 
per month. Farm hands command about $25 per month, by the year's hire: 
harvest hands, $1.75 to $2.50 per day: house servants about $20 per month. 
Common laborers, $1.75 to $2.00 per day: foremen of gangs, from $75 to 
$100 per month: blacksmiths, $2.50 to $4 per day: carpenters, $3.50, and 
carpenters 1 assistants, $1.75 to $2. In shops, machinists get from $3.50 to 
$4 per clay: boiler makers, $4; their helpers, $2 to $2.50. Harness makers 
in Portland, $2 to $3 per day; saddle makers get $3 to $5 a day for piece 
work. Cabinet making is extensively carried on. Good workmen receive 
stead}' employment, and get $2.50 to $3.50 per da}'. The Portland wagon 
and carriage makers earn $2.50 to $3: blacksmiths, on wagon and carriage 
work, $2.50 to $4 a day: brick layers and stone masons, $4 a day. The 
woolen mills at Oregon City pay as follows: Common labor, $1.25 to $1.50: 
Chinese, 90 cents to $1: weavers average $1.75; spinners, $1.25 to $1.50, 
being generally expert children and youths. House servants are in demand, 
and, owing to the absence of white help, Chinese are freely employed at $3 
to $5 a week, very good ones earning as much as $25 to $30 per month. 
Servant girls earn good wages, and are preferred when they can be had. 

There is not more lack here than in other parts of the United States for 
lawyers, doctors and clergymen. Persons belonging to these professions 
will find it difficult to make their way, but even in these callings success 
may be achieved by capable men. 

In mercantile pursuits, the opening is good for men of enterprise and 
capital, but the chances for more clerks are not the best. 

For the past few years wheat in bulk at Portland has ranged at from $1 
to $1.60 per 100 pounds: oats, 45 to 60 cents; potatoes, 40 to 75 cents: flax 
seed !, and onions $1 per bushel; best quality flour, $4 to $5 per 

barrel. Good farm horses cost about $100 each: oxen $125 per yoke; good 
average milch cows, $30 each; sheep, $1.25 to $2.50 per head: wool, common 
graded, 15 to 20 cents per pouncV beef on the hoof is worth 3 to 4 cents; 
butchered beef, 5 to 1% cents; choice cuts, 10 to 14 cents; chickens per 
dozen, $3 to $5; tame ducks per pair, $1.50: geese per pair, $3: turkeys per 
pair $3: wild ducks per pair, 50 to 75 cents: wild geese per pair, $1.50; 
pheasants per pair, 50 cents: grouse per pair, 75 cents: venison 10 to!2 cents... 



68 OREGON. 

The assessment for taxation under the present law is on the basis of about 
55 per cent, of the full valuation of property. 

Farmers with limited capital, who are uneasy about their future and that 
of their children, and are prepared to emigrate, should consider the 
advantages which Oregon affords, irrespective of the climate, which must be 
attractive to all. They should have at least sufficient capital to be inde- 
pendent for twelve months. It is often best for the father to go out and 
pave the way for the little folks. 



® 




ILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. 



Any Ticket Agent in the United States or Canada, can sell Tickets, 
Check Baggage, and arrange for Pullman Palace Sleeping Car Berths, via 
the Union Pacific Railway. Do not complete your arrangements for a Western Trip until 
you have applied to the undersigned. Additional information, Maps, Time Tables, etc., will 
be cheerfully furnished. 



Baltimore, Md.— 217 East Baltimore St. 

D. E. Burley, Traveling Passenger Agent. 

Boston, Mass.— 290 Washington Street. 
W. S. Condell, New England Passenger 

Agent. 
J. S. Smith, Traveling Passenger Agent. 

E. M. Newbegin, Traveling Freight and 
Passenger Agent. 

A. P. Massey, Passenger and Freight So- 
licitor. 

Buffalo, N. Y— 40H Exchange Street. 
A. S. Hutchison, Traveling Pass. Agent. 

Butte, Mont. Ter.— Corner Main and 
Broadway, 
W. H. Baldwin, Jr., General Agent. 
Chicago, 111.— 191 South Clark Street. 
J. M. Bechtel, General Agent Passenger 

and Freight Departments. 
T. W. Young, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
W. T. Holly, City Passenger Agent. 
Cincinnati, O.— 169 Walnut Street. 
J. D. Welsh, General Agent Freight and 

Passenger Departments. 
H. C. Smith, Traveling Freight and Pas- 
senger Agent . 
Cleveland, O.— Kennard House. 
A. G. Shearman, Traveling Freight and 
Passenger Agent. 

Columbus, O.— N. W. Corner Gay and 
High Streets. 

T. C. Hirst, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
Council Bluffs. la.— U. P. Transfer. 

W. H. Burns, General Agent. 

J. M. Greevy, Passenger Agent. 

J. W. Maynard, Ticket Agent. 

A. T. Elwell, City Ticket Agent, Corner 
Pearl and Broadway. 
Denver, Col.— 1703 Larimer Street. 

D. B. Keeler, Assistant General Freight 
Agent and General Agent Passenger 
Department. 

H. J. Rifenberick, Traveling Passenger 
Agent. 

F. B. Semple, City Passenger Agent. 

Des Moines, la.— 218 4th Street. 

E. M. Ford, Traveling Passenger Agent. 

Detroit, Mich.— 62 Griswold Street. 
D. W. Johnson, Michigan Passenger Agt. 

Indianapolis, Ind.-69 West Maryland St. 
C. S. Black3ian, Traveling Passenger 
Agent. 



Kansas City, Mo.— 9th and Broadway. 

F. B. Whitney, General Agent Passenger 

Department and Assistant General 

Freight Agent. 

J. B. Reese, Traveling Passenger Agent. 

R. M. Reese, Union Depot Passenger 

Agent. 
T. A. Shaw, Ticket Agent, 1038 Union Ave. 
A. W. Millspaugh, Ticket Agent, Union 

Depot. 
C. A. Whittier, City Ticket Agent, 528 
W ain Street. 
Los Angeles, CaL— 236 North Main St. 
A. J. Hetchman, Agent Passenger and 
Freight Departments. 
Louisville, Ky.— 346 West Main Street. 
N. Haiqht, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
Montreal.— 136 St. James Street. 
James Dunn, Canada Freight and Pas- 
senger Agent. 
New York City.— 287 Broadway. 
R. Tenbroeck, General Eastern Agent. 
J. F. Wiley, Passenger Agent. 
F. R. Seaman, City Passenger Agent. 
Omaha, Net).— 9th and Farnam Streets. 
J. B. Frawlet, Traveling Passenger Agt. 
J. K. Chambers, Depot Ticket Agent. 
Harry P. Deuel, City Passenger and 
Ticket Agent, 1302 Farnam Street. 
Ogden, Utah. 

C. A. Henry, Ticket Agent, Union Depot. 
Philadelphia, Pa- 133 South 4th Street. 
T. P. Vaille, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
Pittsburg 1 , Pa.— 400 Wood Street. 
H. E. Passavant, Traveling Freight and 
Passenger Agent. 
Portland, Ore. —Cor. 1st and Oak Streets. 
A. L. Maxwell, G. P. & T. A., O. R, & 
N. Co. 
St. Louis, Mo.— 13 South 4th Street. 
J. F. Aglar. General Agent Freight and 
Passenger Departments. 

E. R. Tuttle, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
A. W. Barbour, City Passenger Agent. 

St. Paul, Minn.— 154 East 3d Street. 

F. L. Lynde, Traveling Passenger Agent. 
Sacramento, CaL— 1018 2d Street. 

C. L. Hanna. Traveling Agent. 
Salt Lake City, Utah.— 201 Main Street. 
J. V. Parker, Division Freight and Pas- 
senger Agent. 

C. E. Ingalls, City Passenger Agent. 
San Francisco, CaL— 1 Montgomery St. 

D. W. Hitchcock, General Agent Freight 
and Passenger Departments. 

W. G. Holcombe, Passenger Agent. 



J. A. S. REED, Traveling Agent, 191 South Clark St., Chicago. 



J. S. TEBBETS, 

General Passenger and Ticket Agent, 



E. L. LOMAX, 

Assistant General Passenger and Ticket Agent, 



OMAHA, NEBRASKA. 






THE 



Orijipl Trunrallpiitiil Line 

Carrying the United States Overland Mail for 

CHINA AND JAPAN, 

Passing through the most Fertile Portions of 

KANSAS, 

The most Productive Lands in 

NEBRASKA, 

Through the Romantic and Picturesque Scenery of 

COLORADO, 

And the Famous Grazing Lands of 

WYOMING. 

It is the most Direct Route to the Vine-clad Hills and num- 
erous Health and Pleasure Resorts of 

UTAH. 






it 



is the Only Line passing through the Millions of Acres of 
Grazing, Farming, Fruit-raising and Mining Lands of 

IDAHO. 

is the Direct Route to the Agricultural, Grazing, Mining 
and Timber Lands of the State of 

OREGON 

AND 

WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

is also the "POPULAR ROUTE 11 to the Famous, yet 
practically unknown Country of 

ALASKA 

VIA 

PORTLAND. 



THOS. L. KIMBALL, Acting General Manager. 
E. L. LOMAX, J S. TEBBETS, 

Asst. Gen 1 ! Passenger and Ticket Agent. Gen 1 ! Passenger and Ticket Agent. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






r 



R* 




